Efficiency Assessment of Cruciform Steel Columns: Balancing Axial Capacity and Weight

Cruciform steel columns, also known as king and queen cross sections, have gained attention in structural engineering for their ability to overcome the limitations of traditional I-sections and H-sections. These limitations include reduced stability due to slenderness effects and excessive material usage in tall columns. Designed to enhance axial load capacity while minimizing weight, cruciform sections offer a more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for modern construction. This study assesses the efficiency of cruciform steel columns by comparing their design axial capacities to their unit weights. Using AISC 360-16 provisions, single supported columns with heights of 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, and 5 m were analyzed. The results show that all sections perform similarly for short columns (2 m), with efficiency differences of less than 8% due to the minimal impact of slenderness. However, at 3 m, the I-section is 20% less efficient than the H-section and 30% less efficient than cruciform sections. For taller columns (4 m and 5 m), cruciform sections outperform conventional sections, with the king cross-section proving to be 30% more efficient than the H-section and superior to the queen cross-section. These findings highlight the structural and material advantages of cruciform sections, particularly in applications requiring tall columns with significant slenderness effects. By reducing material usage while maintaining high load-bearing capacity, cruciform sections enhance sustainability by lowering both carbon and construction costs. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing steel column designs to achieve more sustainable and cost-effective construction.