On imperfections in thin-walled welded rectangular hollow section compressive members

This contribution presents the results of a research projects analysing some aspects of stability failure of thin-walled RHS compression members that are likely to exhibit combined global and local buckling. In particular the influence of various imperfections, namely residual stresses due to welding and local as well as global geometrical defects, on the load-carrying capacity is subjected to detailed experimental and numerical investigations. The insight into the structural behaviour leads to recommendations for standardized imperfections that should be used in the context of the numerical modelling of class-4 square and rectangular hollow section members subjected to compression