Analysis of Width-to-Thickness Ratios (Flange and Stem) of T-Shaped Sections on the Overall Strength of Compressed Members

Due to the conservative design approach in current regulations for non-slender sections of T-shaped steel structures, the design results tend to be overly safe, which in turn reduces material utilization efficiency. Based on AISC 2023, delves into the influence of the width-to-thickness ratio (λ) of T-shaped sections on the strength of members for compression. The focus is on analyzing the differences in member strength between non-slender and slender elements. Based on limiting width-to-thickness ratios (λr), the analysis is divided into two parts: flange width-to-thickness ratio (λf) analysis and stem width-to-thickness ratio (λw) analysis. Further, non-slender and slender elements are designed to explore in depth the impact of variations in section geometric parameters on member strength. The research results indicate that under different effective lengths (Lc), changes in section geometry have varying impacts. For shorter effective lengths (Lc), variations in the flange have a more significant influence on strength, while for longer effective lengths (Lc), the web has a more pronounced effect. This study focuses on optimizing the geometric parameter design of T-shaped section columns, aiming to enhance the stability and design feasibility of members. It also seeks to expand the application of width-to-thickness ratio limits (λr)in engineering design.