ABSTRACT
The FE method was adopted aiming at getting a deeper insight in the response of the sections analysed in this study. The results of a study of the influence of the imperfections are presented.
The numerical study was carried out by means of the commercial software Abaqus incorporating geometric and material nonlinearities. The FE model comprised of both the profile and the welded end-plates. The end plates were assumed to be rigid while shell elements S4R with uniform size approximately equal to 4 × 4 mm were adopted for the section. Shell-to-solid coupling constraints are used to simulate adequately the plate-to-section weld.
