Finite Element Analysis of Steel Columns Subjected to Bi-directional Cyclic Loads

Steel columns are very useful in highway bridge pier construction as they offer flexible space requirement and have speedy construction time. Behaviour of steel columns under earthquake-induced loads is rather complicated as earthquakes occur in oblique direction. However, modern seismic design philosophies have been based on the behaviour of structures under independent actions of unidirectional loading in orthogonal directions. In this study, inelastic cyclic behaviour of steel columns subjected to axial force together with simultaneous bi-directional cyclic loads is investigated using an advanced finite element analyses procedure. Several types of linear and non-linear idealized loading patterns are employed to check the strength and ductility. The effects of important structural parameters on the behaviour under different loading patterns are also examined using the proposed procedure.