Experimental and numerical investigation on impact and post-impact behaviours of H-shaped steel members

Abstract The impact and post-impact behaviours of H-shaped steel members are investigated experimentally and numerically in this paper. The drop-hammer impact tests and the axial compression tests after impact were firstly performed on thirteen specimens, in which two boundary conditions and four impact energies (drop height ranged from 1.04 m to 2.50 m) were used. Experimental results such as failure patterns, impact force–time histories, permanent deformations and post-impact axial load-lateral deflection curves were presented. Subsequently, finite element models were established using ABAQUS software. The impact test and the axial compression test after impact were reproduced using the explicit and implicit algorithms in ABAQUS, respectively. Finally, case studies were carried out using the validated FE models to assess the residual load-carrying capacities of impact-damaged H-shaped steel members in industrial plants. The results showed that the boundary condition had an influence on the failure pattern and impact force response during impact. Within the parameter range of this work, the residual load-carrying capacity of H-shaped steel members was primarily affected by the global deformation at the mid-height induced by impact.