Measurement and assessment of imperfections in plasma cut-welded H-shaped steel columns

H-shaped welded steel column members are fabricated by welding together pre-cut flanges and the web. Modern fabricators are increasingly using plasma-cutting technique instead of traditional flame cutting. Different fabrication techniques result in different degrees of geometric imperfections and residual stresses, which can have considerable influence on the strength of steel columns. This paper presents the experimental investigation based temperature profiles, geometric imperfections, and built-in residual stresses in plasma cut-welded H-shaped steel column members and in similar flame cut-welded H-shaped steel columns. Temperature measurements were taken during and immediately after the cutting operations and the welding operations. The geometric imperfections were established at closely spaced grid locations on the original plates, after cutting plates into plate strips, and after welding plate strips into columns. Geometric imperfections associated with plasma cut element and members were found to be less than those of the corresponding elements and members made by flame cutting. The