On Numerical and Analytical Investigation of the Effectiveness of Strengthening of Steel Columns—Case Study

In the context of growing environmental consciousness, the contemporary construction industry is placing significant emphasis on prolonging the functional lifespan of existing infrastructure. In the event of a modification in the utilisation of a building, an augmentation in the loads transferred to individual elements, or a deterioration in the condition of the structure due to wear and tear, it is often necessary to implement measures for structural reinforcement. The present paper sets out an analysis of the effectiveness of strengthening a steel column manufactured from SHS120×120×5. It was posited that four distinct reinforcement variants could be achieved by the implementation of additional stiffening elements through the process of welding. The efficiency analysis was conducted employing two distinct methodologies. The geometrical imperfection method is employed using the IDEAStatiCa Member 25.0.4 software, whilst the analytical method is implemented through the use of guidelines presented in the literature. It was demonstrated that all of the proposed solutions were capable of meeting the required column capacity when the loads were increased. A comparison was made between the values of the critical forces and the members' stresses, determined by the selected methods. A substantial discrepancy was identified between the critical force values derived from linear buckling analysis and those calculated using elastic Euler theory. The following discourse herein delineates the primary advantages and limitations of the two aforementioned methods.