Sensitivity Analysis of Initial Imperfection in Low Torsional Stiffness Cruciform Steel Columns

Sensitivity Analysis of Initial Imperfection in Low Torsional Stiffness Cruciform Steel Columns | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Sensitivity Analysis of Initial Imperfection in Low Torsional Stiffness Cruciform Steel Columns Zhengchao Li, Zheng Li, Long Jin, Qicai Li This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7650803/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Cruciform steel columns are widely employed in diverse structural applications due to their advantages, which include flexible layout configurations and reduced self-weight. However, these columns possess inherently low torsional stiffness, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of initial imperfections, especially initial torsion, which can be especially detrimental. Current design standards, such as GB 50017, Eurocode 3, and AISC 360, do not take initial torsional imperfections into consideration. This omission can result in potential inaccuracies in structural evaluations and may compromise overall safety. In this study, nonlinear finite element modeling (FEM) was performed using ANSYS software with Solid45 elements. The analysis accounted for both geometric imperfections and residual stresses, and its accuracy was validated through eigenvalue and nonlinear buckling analyses, with error margins remaining below 5%. The main findings indicate that the width-to-thickness ratio (b/t ≈ 18.5) is a critical factor influencing the transition between elastic and plastic behavior, as well as contributing to a reduction in load-bearing capacity. Initial torsion within the range of 0–5° was found to have the most significant negative impact on the bearing capacity of the columns. Residual stresses were shown to further aggravate this effect, with notable coupling interactions. Additionally, when the slenderness ratio ( \(\lambda\) ) relative to the b/t ratio (k < 5.18) is low, the detrimental influence of initial torsion is considerably amplified. This research helps to fill existing theoretical gaps, reinforces the foundational basis for stability analysis, and offers valuable insights that can inform future revisions of structural design codes. Physical sciences/Engineering Physical sciences/Materials science Physical sciences/Mathematics and computing Cruciform column Torsional buckling Buckling resistance Axial compression Finite element simulation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7650803","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":524086471,"identity":"8f47a36b-f5b4-42f7-93f8-fe0fc448a91d","order_by":0,"name":"Zhengchao 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Columns","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Cruciform column, Torsional buckling, Buckling resistance, Axial compression, Finite element simulation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7650803/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7650803/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eCruciform steel columns are widely employed in diverse structural applications due to their advantages, which include flexible layout configurations and reduced self-weight. However, these columns possess inherently low torsional stiffness, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of initial imperfections, especially initial torsion, which can be especially detrimental. Current design standards, such as GB 50017, Eurocode 3, and AISC 360, do not take initial torsional imperfections into consideration. This omission can result in potential inaccuracies in structural evaluations and may compromise overall safety. In this study, nonlinear finite element modeling (FEM) was performed using ANSYS software with Solid45 elements. The analysis accounted for both geometric imperfections and residual stresses, and its accuracy was validated through eigenvalue and nonlinear buckling analyses, with error margins remaining below 5%. The main findings indicate that the width-to-thickness ratio (b/t\u0026thinsp;\u0026asymp;\u0026thinsp;18.5) is a critical factor influencing the transition between elastic and plastic behavior, as well as contributing to a reduction in load-bearing capacity. Initial torsion within the range of 0\u0026ndash;5\u0026deg; was found to have the most significant negative impact on the bearing capacity of the columns. Residual stresses were shown to further aggravate this effect, with notable coupling interactions. Additionally, when the slenderness ratio (\u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\lambda\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e) relative to the b/t ratio (k\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5.18) is low, the detrimental influence of initial torsion is considerably amplified. This research helps to fill existing theoretical gaps, reinforces the foundational basis for stability analysis, and offers valuable insights that can inform future revisions of structural design codes.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Sensitivity Analysis of Initial Imperfection in Low Torsional Stiffness Cruciform Steel Columns","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-06 11:37:21","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7650803/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"1e85862d-b9d0-48db-a7b3-2505c91e122f","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 6th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":55703501,"name":"Physical sciences/Engineering"},{"id":55703502,"name":"Physical sciences/Materials science"},{"id":55703503,"name":"Physical sciences/Mathematics and computing"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-09T07:23:17+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-06 11:37:21","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7650803","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7650803","identity":"rs-7650803","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}