Post-impact behavior and residual strength assessment of H-shaped steel columns under lateral impact and axial compression: a parametric finite element study

Abstract In this study, the post-impact behavior of H-shaped steel columns subjected to lateral impact followed by uniform axial compression was investigated through validated finite element models developed in ABAQUS. The research systematically examined the effects of six key parameters namely, column height, boundary conditions, impact velocity, hammer mass, impact area, and impact location within a clearly defined analytical framework. A total of 61 distinct three-dimensional finite element models were developed and analyzed to evaluate the post-impact behavior of H-shaped steel columns. The simulation results revealed a clear trend: increasing column height led to a reduction in post-impact axial load capacity, ranging from 4.97% to 19.18%, primarily attributed to enhanced slenderness and resultant instability. Among the examined parameters, boundary conditions exerted the most significant influence. Transitioning from fixed–fixed to pinned–pinned supports resulted in a marked reduction of up to 51.9% in axial capacity. Dynamic impact parameters also played a substantial role; concurrent increases in hammer mass and impact velocity led to a decrease in axial strength by as much as 48.86%. Additionally, variations in impact location and area influenced failure mechanisms. Smaller impact areas and eccentric impact positions caused more localized damage and asymmetric buckling, whereas impacts at mid-height and moderate areas (a = 1/2) yielded superior structural performance. Observed failure modes ranged from localized denting to global flexural and torsional buckling, governed by the interaction between geometric configurations and loading conditions. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing the impact resilience of steel columns in infrastructure systems, promoting the design of safer and higher-capacity structural elements under dynamic loading scenarios.