Biaxial bending and compression of elliptical hollow sections

The structural response of Elliptical Hollow Sections (EHS) under combined biaxial bending and compression is investigated in this paper. The research is conducted at the cross-sectional level and is based primarily upon laboratory testing and Finite element modelling. A series of experiments with various load eccentricities about both the major and minor axes have been conducted so as to investigate the interaction between compression and biaxial bending. The measured geometric and material properties of the test specimens, together with the full load-deformation histories have been reported. The test data have been supplemented by further results generated through parallel numerical studies. The combined structural performance data have been used to verify proposed interaction expressions; these have been developed in accordance with Eurocode 3 for ease of future incorporation.