Stability Bearing Capacity of 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Thin-Walled Tubular Members Under Axial Compression Based on the Continuous Strength Method

In this study, experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches were conducted to investigate the stability bearing capacity of the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy thin-walled tubular members under axial compression. Initially, a total of 12 6061-T6 aluminum alloy thin-walled tubular members were tested under axial compression, together with initial geometric imperfection measurements. Subsequently, the experimentally validated finite element (FE) model was established using ABAQUS, and a large number of parametric analyses were carried out via this model to investigate the effects of the initial imperfection, the cross-section size and the strain-hardening exponent on the overall stability of the component. Finally, a calculating formula for the strength and overall stability of aluminum alloy axial compression members is proposed based on the continuous strength method (CSM). The analysis results showed that the initial geometric imperfection and strain-hardening exponent have a significant effect on the axial compression stability coefficient of the small slenderness ratio aluminum alloy members. When the relative slenderness ratio is greater than 0.75 and less than 2, the strain-hardening exponent has a great influence on the aluminum alloy axial compression stability coefficient. The proposed strength and overall stability calculation formula of aluminum alloy axial compression members, which is based on CSM, can accurately predict the stability bearing capacity of the aluminum alloy.