Steel continues to be one of the world's most widely used structural materials, particularly as governments and private developers invest heavily in modern infrastructure. H-beam steel sections are widely preferred because of their high load-bearing capacity and efficient cross-sectional design. Engineers generally choose between hot-rolled H-beams, manufactured directly in steel mills, and welded built-up H-beams, fabricated by welding steel plates into customized sections.
Each option has distinct advantages. Hot-rolled sections offer factory-controlled quality, uniform material properties, and rapid installation. Welded built-up sections provide greater flexibility because engineers can customize dimensions to match specific project requirements. However, the welding process introduces residual stresses and geometric imperfections that may reduce structural performance under heavy compressive loads.
According to the researchers, choosing between these two column types is no longer simply a design preference. It directly affects structural safety, construction costs, long-term maintenance, and the durability of buildings throughout their service life.
To compare both structural systems under realistic conditions, the research team combined theoretical calculations based on Indonesia's Structural Steel Standard (SNI 1729:2020) with advanced numerical simulations using the Finite Element Method (FEM) through SAP2000 software.
The case study focused on the J&T Solo Gateway warehouse project, where welded built-up H-beam columns are used as the primary structural members. The researchers modeled both welded and hot-rolled columns with identical dimensions, material assumptions, loading conditions, and boundary constraints, allowing an objective comparison between the two systems.
Rather than relying only on theoretical calculations, the researchers incorporated real project data into the numerical model. Material properties were obtained through tensile testing, weld quality was verified using Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), and field measurements were conducted to determine column verticality and initial geometric imperfections. These measurements helped produce simulations that more closely reflected actual construction conditions.
- The study demonstrates that hot-rolled H-beam columns consistently outperform welded built-up H-beam columns across several key structural indicators.
- The principal findings include:
- Nominal compressive capacity: Hot-rolled profile achieved 162,743 kgf, compared with 158,710 kgf for the welded built-up profile.
- Ultimate numerical capacity: Hot-rolled profile reached 193,015 kgf, exceeding the welded built-up profile at 189,465 kgf.
- Buckling stability: The first-mode buckling factor for hot-rolled columns was 1.97455, higher than the welded profile's 1.92217, indicating greater resistance to global buckling.
- Structural response: All numerical models experienced global flexural buckling, but the direction of initial geometric imperfections significantly affected deformation patterns and ultimate load capacity.
- Design safety: Numerical capacities remained higher than the design capacities calculated under SNI 1729:2020, suggesting that the Indonesian design standard maintains an appropriate level of structural conservatism.
- Another important finding concerns the influence of fabrication quality. The researchers observed that simply changing the direction of the initial geometric imperfection altered the ultimate capacity of both column types. In welded built-up columns, the change reduced structural capacity while increasing lateral deformation. Hot-rolled columns, meanwhile, maintained higher stability and exhibited a more favorable deformation response.
These results suggest that residual stresses generated during welding play an important role in structural behavior. Although welded built-up sections remain attractive because they can be manufactured in customized dimensions, engineers should carefully consider welding effects during structural analysis to avoid overestimating column performance.
The findings have significant implications for the construction industry. Projects that prioritize long-term reliability, structural safety, and performance—such as logistics warehouses, manufacturing facilities, airports, commercial buildings, and public infrastructure—may benefit from selecting hot-rolled H-beam columns whenever standard dimensions satisfy design requirements.
Welded built-up H-beams remain valuable for projects requiring non-standard geometries or oversized sections unavailable through conventional manufacturing. However, designers should include realistic assumptions regarding residual stress, geometric imperfections, and nonlinear structural behavior when evaluating these fabricated members.
The researchers from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya emphasize that advanced numerical simulation provides a more realistic understanding of steel column behavior than theoretical calculations alone. Their analysis demonstrates that structural efficiency depends not only on material strength but also on fabrication methods, stability characteristics, and overall structural behavior under compressive loading.
Beyond individual projects, the study may also contribute to future improvements in Indonesian structural design standards. As steel construction continues to expand across Southeast Asia, integrating numerical simulation with national design codes could help engineers achieve safer, more economical, and more sustainable buildings.
As Febri Novianto, Ony Frengky Rumihin, and Buntara Sthenly Gan explain through their analysis, engineers should evaluate steel columns from both structural and economic perspectives. Their findings indicate that hot-rolled H-beam columns deliver the most balanced performance under the conditions investigated, while welded built-up sections require additional consideration of fabrication-induced imperfections to ensure safe structural design.
Author Profiles
Febri Novianto is a Master's student in Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya. His research focuses on steel structures, structural engineering, finite element analysis, and construction technology.
Dr. Ony Frengky Rumihin is a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya. His expertise includes structural engineering, steel construction, structural analysis, and civil engineering design.
Prof. Buntara Sthenly Gan is affiliated with Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya and Nihon University, Japan. His research specializes in structural engineering, mechanics of materials, steel structures, and advanced construction technologies.
Source
Article: Examination of The Compressive Strength and Buckling Characteristics of Welded H-Beam And Hot-Rolled H-Beam Columns
Journal: Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST), Vol. 5, No. 7 (2026), pp. 1705–1720.
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