The post-elastic behaviour of aluminium extruded members subjected to non-uniform bending is investigated in this paper. The study is framed within a general research program, based on the use of sophisticated non-linear FEM analysis, aimed at assessing the influence of the main geometrical and mechanical parameters on the strength and ductility of I-shaped and hollow rectangular shaped aluminium beams. In particular, the influence of the flange slenderness, the section shape factor, the slenderness ratio between plate elements composing the cross-section, the web stiffness and the member compactness as well as the hardening features of the alloy are accounted for. The obtained results, which are evaluated against the existing guidelines provided by Eurocode 9, clearly show the need to improve current cross-sectional classification criterion. Therefore, a different classification system with new class limits, which are able to take into account correctly the effects due to the influential parameters and in particular the one related to the alloy strain hardening, is established and proposed.
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