Preface

Extensive research projects on tubular structures have been carried out in the last 30
years under the direction of CIDECT (International Committee for the Development
and Study of Tubular Structures) and IIW (International Institute of Welding)
Subcommission XV-E. A series of design guides have been produced by CIDECT
to assist practising engineers. Individual steel manufacturers have been involved in
numerous research programs on their own products. Professional organisations such
as the Australian Steel Institute (formerly the Australian Institute of Steel
Construction), The Steel Construction Institute (UK), the American Institute of Steel
Construction, the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction and the Architectural
Institute of Japan and the Building Centre of Japan have also prepared design aids on
designing steel hollow sections. Most of the documents were related mainly to the
behaviour and design of hot-rolled tubular sections.

This book describes the structural behaviour and design of cold-formed tubular
members and connections. Cold-formed tubes have several special characteristics
which differentiate them from hot-rolled tubes such as rounded stress-strain material
behaviour, variation of yield stress around the section, larger residual stresses, web
crippling of RHS due to the extemal comer radii that introduce load eccentrically to
the webs, interaction of web local buckling and flange local bucking in bending, weld
defects in welded thin-walled tubes and their impact on fatigue strength, and
challenge for plastic design because of lower ductility. The following topics on cold-
formed tubular sections have only received small coverage in the existing design
standards, design guides or relevant books: members subjected to bending,
compression, combined bending and compression, local buckling under concentrated
force, effect of bending on bearing capacity, tension members and welds in thin-
walled tubes, welded connections subjected to fatigue loading, effect of concrete-
filling and large-deformation cyclic loading on limiting width-to-thickness ratios,
fatigue design using hot spot stress method, bolted moment end plate connections and
plastic design of portal frames. These topics are addressed in detail in the book.

This book not only summarises the research performed to date on cold-formed tubular
members and connections but also provides design examples in accordance with both
the Australian Standard AS 4100 and the British Standard BS 5950 Part 1. It is
suitable for structural engineers, researchers and university students who are
interested in tubular structures.

Chapter 1 deals with the application of cold-formed tubes and the scope of the book.
Chapter 2 summarises the manufacturing processes and manufacturing tolerances in
various standards. It also presents the material properties of cold-formed tubes
including the rounded stress-strain curves, variation of yield stress around the section,
residual stresses and fracture toughness. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are concemed with
members subjected to bending, compression and combined bending and compression.
The highlights include slendemess limits, flexural-torsional buckling, interaction of
local and overall buckling and beam-column behaviour. Chapter 6 discusses RHS
members subjected to concentrated forces applied through either a welded brace or a
bearing plate. The effect of bending moment on bearing capacity is also presented.