Compressive Performance of Wire-Laser Additively Manufactured High-Strength Steel Lipped Angles

Abstract Advanced additive manufacturing techniques are transforming the production of structural components, offering precise control over material distribution and geometric complexity. This article focuses on evaluating the compressive performance of high-strength steel (HSS) lipped angle stub columns produced using an advanced three-dimensional (3D)-printing technique—wire-laser additive manufacturing (WLAM). Fifteen specimens with different geometric configurations were 3D-printed using ER120s HSS through the WLAM process and subsequently tested under compression, supplemented by material testing and geometric measurements. The experimental findings were thoroughly analyzed and compared with those of WLAM unlipped angles. It was observed that the addition of lips significantly improves the load-bearing performance of WLAM HSS angles, with the enhancement effect being more pronounced in slenderer sections. Following the laboratory testing, a design evaluation was carried out to examine the American, European, and Australian specifications, as well as the continuous strength method (CSM). The findings indicate that current international design codes are not directly applicable to WLAM HSS lipped angles, as they exhibit considerable discrepancies and design inaccuracy. Conversely, CSM demonstrates superior predictive accuracy and provides a more reliable design approach compared with the American, European, and Australian standards.