Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) Rings under Lateral Compressive Loading between Platens and Wearpads

Aims: To investigate the buckling behavior of RHS Rings, under two kinds of transverse loading (a) between platens and (b) between wearpads, by experimentation and through Finite Element Analysis(FEA).

Place and Duration of Study: College of Engineering, UAE University, between December 2015 to June 2017.

Methodology: Experimental studies on sample RHS Rings compressed transversely between platens and wearpads were conducted. From the experimental observations, the behavior of RHS rings under both these types of loadings was hypothesized and explained theoretically. FE models were built to represent the experimental tests.

Results: Experimental and FEA results showed load-displacement curves with three distinct regions, namely the elastic region, elasto-plastic region and the post-yield region under both kinds of loading. However, the maximum load under wearpad loading was much lower when a similar RHS Ring is considered under platen loading. The behavior of RHS Rings is explained theoretically by considering the RHS Rings as an assemblage of horizontal beams and vertical columns.

Conclusion: Transverse compression of RHS Rings between platens cause each member columns and beams of the ring to be subjected to end moments and end reaction forces. Additional end moments are induced when RHS Rings are compressed between wearpads causing a reduction in the RHS Ring load carrying capacity.