This　paper　describes　a　series　of　stub　column　tests　carried　out　on　fabricated　square　and　triangular　sections　(FSTSs)　utilizing　very　high　strength　(VHS)　circular　steel　tubes　with　a　nominal　yield　stress　of　1350　MPa.　The　VHS　tubes　are　placed　at　each　corner　of　the　section　and　welded　to　Grade　350　steel　plates.　Two　different　nominal　diameter-to-thickness　ratios　of　15.9　and　23.8　were　chosen　for　the　VHS　tubes.　Five　different　nominal　width-to-thickness　ratios　ranging　from　40　to　133　were　chosen　for　the　steel　plates.　The　geometric　imperfection　of　the　fabricated　sections　was　measured.　Twelve　tests　on　VHS　columns,　with　the　same　length　as　that　for　corresponding　FSTS　specimens,　were　tested　for　comparison　purpose.　The　load　carrying　capacity　of　the　FSTSs　utilizing　VHS　tubes　was　found　to　be　3.5　times　the　calculated　nominal　section　capacity　of　a　corresponding　welded　square　or　triangular　box　section　without　tubes.　The　load　carrying　capacity　of　the　FSTSs　was　found　to　be　up　to　3.8　times　that　of　the　corresponding　VHS　columns　without　the　plates　and　a　length　of　1200　mm.　Two　design　models　were　proposed.　One　is　based　on　the　simple　superposition　of　the　capacities　of　VHS　tubes　and　steel　plates.　The　other　is　based　on　the　capacity　of　steel　plates　with　a　newly　derived　plate　element　yield　slenderness　limit.　(C)　2004　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.