Abstract:Finite element numerical technique is used in the paper to simulate the longitudinal residual stress (LRS) distirbution in a coldformed square hollow section (CFSHS) which is produced during its rollforming and springback process,and then to investigate the effects of CFSHS’s width,wall thickness and yield strength on the LRS ditribution.It is concluded that LRS along the CFSHS’s wall thickness presents a feature of a nonlinear distribution,tension at the outside surface but compression at the inside surface,and mostly the same amplitude at the both surface.The LRSs at the corner and at the flat side come to 50% and 45% of CFSHS’s yield strength respectively.The LRS for a smaller width increses,whereas the LRS for a larger width does not show such the trend,as the wall thickness increases.The LRS decreases,as the width increases.The ratio of LRS to yield strength does not change significantly,as the yield strength varies.