Hot Bending

AISC Design Guide 33 Curved Member Design Section 2.3.5

Hot bending is any process where curvature is induced by load application at an elevated temperature. Also known as heat-assisted bending, the primary advantage of hot bending is that the material yield strength is lowered from the room temperature value, requiring smaller forces to be exerted by the bending machine. Heat is applied directly to the member by flame, by heating in a furnace, or by induction coil, followed by the application of a bending force. The member can be bent around preset forms, but more often the bending force is applied using one of the previously discussed bending methods. For HSS members, the heat can be applied either externally or internally. For cambering beams by gag pressing, the application of heat is typically used only where the beam strength exceeds the machine capacity.