Experimental and numerical studies for buckling and collapse behaviors of a cracked thin steel panel subjected to sequential tensile and compressive loading

Abstract The buckling and collapse behaviors of a cracked thin steel panel subjected to sequential tensile and compressive loading were investigated. An experimental apparatus was developed. Three different test specimens were employed, i.e., an intact panel and cracked panels with different crack lengths. The load-displacement curve and crack opening displacement (COD) were measured during the loading. The experimental results were examined via finite element (FE) computation. The results revealed that the developed experimental apparatus is quite suitable for investigating the buckling and collapse behaviors. Furthermore, the maximum tensile load, ultimate strength and local deformation around the crack were well simulated by the FE computation. The presence of the crack and length of the crack were strongly affected to the buckling and collapse behaviors.