Study on the Local Buckling Behavior of Steel Equal Angle Members under Axial Compression with the Steel Strength Variation

High strength steel sections have been increasingly used in buildings and bridges, and steel angles have also been widely used in many steel structures, especially in transmission towers and long span trusses. However, high strength steel exhibits mechanical properties that are quite different from ordinary strength steel, and hence, the local buckling behavior of steel equal angle members under axial compression varies with the steel strength. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship of the local buckling behavior of steel equal angle members under axial compression with the steel strength. A finite element model is developed in this paper to analyze the local buckling behavior of steel equal angle members under axial compression, and study its relationship with the steel strength and the width-to-thickness ratio of the angle leg. The finite element analysis (FEA) results are compared with the corresponding design method in the American code AISC 360-05, which provides a reference for the related design.