Two series of simply supported bending tests on aluminium alloy square and rectangular hollow sections
have been performed. The test program comprised 14 three-point bending tests and 15 four-point bend-
ing tests. The test specimens were fabricated by extrusion from grades 6061-T6 and 6063-T5 heat-treated
aluminium alloys, with width-to-thickness ratios ranging from 2.8 to 20.5. Measured geometric and
material properties, together with the full load–deflection histories from the test specimens, were
reported. Observed failure modes included local buckling, material yielding and tensile fracture. Further
experimental data were gathered from the literature. Finite element (FE) models were developed and val-
idated against the test results, and then used to perform parametric studies, in which a total of 132
numerical results were generated. The experimental and numerical results were used to evaluate the
bending resistance provisions of the American [1], Australian/New Zealand [2] and European [3] Specifi-
cations, as well as the continuous strength method (CSM). The moment capacities predicted by the three
design specifications were found to be generally conservative, while the CSM provided more accurate and
more consistent predictions due to the recognition and systematic exploitation of strain hardening.