ABSTRACT
Techniques developed for the satisfactory cold-bending of thin-walled gas and oil pipelines can be used by the structural engineering industry for the fabrication of thin-walled tubular structures with curved members. The advantages of cold-bending versus hot-bending are first discussed. The paper then addresses the problem of plastic buckling which can occur when cold bending of thin pipe. A research project revealed that the onset of buckling can be predicted and controlled and how it is mainly dependent upon the shape of the compressive stress-strain curve of the steel. A simple technique developed to obtain the compressive stress-strain curve of the material is described. The paper closes with recommendations that the technology developed for the gas and oil pipeline industry could be used for the fabrication of thin-walled tubular structures.
