• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.513-538
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• 2022

This paper reports on experiments addressing the buckling and collapse behavior of an innovative built-up cold-formed steel (CFS) columns. The built-up column consists of four individual CFS lipped channels, two of them placed back-to-back at the web using two self-drilling screw fasteners at specified spacing along the column length, while the other two channels were connected flange-to-flange using one self-drilling screw fastener at specified spacing along the column length. In total, 12 experimental tests are reported, covering a wide range of column lengths from stub to slender columns. The initial geometric imperfections and material properties were determined for all test specimens. The effect of screw spacing, load-versus axial shortening behaviour and buckling modes for different lengths and screw spacing were investigated. Nonlinear finite element (FE) models were also developed, which included material nonlinearities and initial geometric imperfections. The FE models were validated against the experimental results, both in terms of axial capacity and failure modes of built-up CFS columns. Furthermore, using the validated FE models, a parametric study was conducted which comprises 324 models to investigate the effect of screw fastener spacing, thicknesses and wide range of lengths on axial capacity of back-to-back and flange-to-flange built-up CFS channel sections. Using both the experimental and FE results, it is shown that design in accordance with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and Australia/New Zealand (AS/NZS) standards is slightly conservative by 6% on average, while determining the axial capacity of back-to-back and flange-to-flange built-up CFS channel sections.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.739-746
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• 2014

The objective of this test series was to determine shear load per unit length which causes a unit slip in the fastener joint. The shear load is one of major factors which reflect partial composite action for cold-formed steel wall stud panels. Test method used were based on the methods presented in the 1962 AISI Specification. According to the comparison with experimental strength, it is seen that the shear loads used in nominal axial strength predictions made acceptable results.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2021

In plate forming technology, cylindrical drawing process is widely used in industry due to technological development. In this study, we used stainless steel 3042B and stainless steel 304J1, which are the most commonly used materials in the production of cold and hot water tanks for water purifiers, among cylindrical drawing products. Under the same conditions, the thickness of the sidewall of the product formed by drawn experiment was studied. As a result of the experiment, the bottom thickness of stainless steel 304J1 was considered to be thick. It is judged that the defect rate can be reduced by changing the breaking phenomenon of the floor surface of the cold and hot water bottles to the material of stainless steel 304j1. Stainless steel 304 2B material shows a sharp change in thickness from punch corner R to sidewall position, while stainless steel 304J1 material showed a uniform change from punch corner R to sidewall position. Stainless steel 304J1 material is considered to improve the clamping of the product in the process of extracting the product after hand drawing. The appearance of stainless steel 3042B products is considered to produce more wrinkles in the flange, which exerts greater tensile force on the sidewall during molding, resulting in uneven sidewall thickness.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.397-418
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• 2009

Eight panel specimens were tested in one-way bending to study the behaviour and capacity of composite slab joists consisting of cold-formed steel C-sections and concrete. Various shear transfer mechanisms were implemented on the C-section flange embedded in the concrete to provide the longitudinal shear resistance. Results showed that all specimens reached serviceability limit state while in elastic range and failure was ductile. Shear transfer achieved for all specimens ranged from 42 to 99% of a full transfer while specimens employed with shear transfer enhancements showed a greater percentage and therefore a higher strength compared with those relying only on surface bond to resist shear. The implementation of pre-drilled holes on the embedded flange of the steel C-section was shown to be most effective. The correlation study between the push-out and panel specimens indicated that the calculated moment capacity based on shear transfer resistance obtained from push-out tests was, on average, 10% lower than the experimental ultimate capacity of the panel specimen.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2017

An experimental investigation is carried out on the failure mechanism of foam concrete with cold formed steel double C-Channels embedment. The foam concrete is made of cement and fly ash with a compressive strength between 9 and 24 MPa with different densities. Forty-eight tests have been carried out in four groups of specimens with various embedment depths of the steel in the concrete. Four modes of failure are observed, which include the independent failure of the C-Channels with and without a concrete block inside the channel as well as the combined failure of the two channels, and the failure of the extrusion block. A theoretical model has been developed to understand the failure process. The peak compressive force applied onto the C-Channels that causes failure is calculated. It is concluded that the failure involves independent slippage between two C-Channels, and the steel and the foam concrete blocks inside the C-Channels. A method to calculate the peak force is also developed based on the test results. The calculations also show that the shear strength of the foam concrete is about 8% of the compressive strength with ${\alpha}$ coefficient of 0.4 between the steel and concrete.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.611-625
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• 2020

Experimental investigation and finite element analysis of corroded cold-formed steel (CFS) columns are presented. 11 tensile coupon specimens and 6 stub columns of corroded CFS that had a channel section of C160x60x20 were subjected to monotonic tensile tests and axial compression tests, respectively. The degradation laws of the mechanical properties of the tensile coupon specimens and stub columns were analysed. An appropriate finite element model for the corroded CFS columns was proposed and the influence of local corrosion on the stability performance of the columns was studied by finite element analysis. Finally, the axial capacity of the experimental results was compared with the predictions obtained from the existing design specifications. The results indicated that with an increasing average thickness loss ratio, the ultimate strength, elastic modulus and yield strength decreased for the tensile coupon specimens. Local buckling deformation was not noticeable until the load reached about 90% of the ultimate load for the non-corroded columns, while local buckling deformation was observed when the load was only 40% of the ultimate load for the corroded columns. The maximum reduction of the ultimate load and critical buckling load was 57% and 81.7%, respectively, compared to those values for the non-corroded columns. The ultimate load of the columns with web thickness reduced by 2 mm was 53% lower than that of the non-corroded columns, which indicates that web corrosion most significantly affects the bearing capacity of the columns with localized corrosion. The results predicted using the design specifications of MOHURD were more accurate than those predicted using the design specifications of AISI.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.601-615
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• 2019

In cold-formed steel (CFS) structures, such as trusses, wall frames and columns, the use of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections are becoming increasingly popular. In such an arrangement, intermediate fasteners are required at discrete points along the length, preventing the angle-sections from buckling independently. Limited research is available in the literature on the axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections. The issue is addressed herein. This paper presents the results of 16 experimental tests, conducted on back-to-back built-up CFS screw fastened angle sections under axial compression. A nonlinear finite element model is then described, which includes material non-linearity, geometric imperfections and explicit modelling of the intermediate fasteners. The finite element model was validated against the experimental test results. The validated finite element model was then used for the purpose of a parametric study comprising 66 models. The effect of fastener spacing on axial strength was investigated. Four different cross-sections and two different thicknesses were analyzed in the parametric study, varying the slenderness ratio of the built-up columns from 20 to 120. Axial strengths obtained from the experimental tests and finite element analysis were used to assess the performance of the current design guidelines as per the Direct Strength Method (DSM); obtained comparison showed that the DSM is over-conservative by 13% on average. This paper has therefore proposed improved design rules for the DSM and verified their accuracy against the finite element and test results of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections under axial compression.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-403
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• 2019

Cold-formed steel (CFS) has a great potential to meet the global challenge of fast-track and durable construction. CFS members undergo large buckling instabilities due to their small wall thickness. CFS beams with corrugated webs have shown great resistance towards web buckling under flexure, when compared to the conventional I-sections. However, the magnitude of global imperfections significantly affects the performance of CFS members. This paper presents the first attempt made to experimentally study the effect of global imperfections on the structural efficiency of various strengthening schemes implemented in CFS beams with corrugated webs. Different strengthening schemes were adopted for two types of beams, one with large global imperfections and the other with small imperfections. Strength and stiffness characteristics of the beams were used to evaluate the structural efficiency of the various strengthening schemes adopted. Six tests were performed with simply supported end conditions, under four-point loading conditions. The load vs. mid-span displacement response, failure loads and modes of failure of the test specimens were investigated. The test results would compensate the lack of experimental data in this area of research and would help in developing numerical models for extensive studies for the development of necessary guidelines on the same. Strengthening schemes assisted in enhancing the member performance significantly, both in terms of strength and stiffness. Hence, providing an economic and time saving solution to such practical structural engineering problems.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.907-929
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• 2022

Compression experiments were conducted to investigate the compressive behavior of built-up open-section columns consisting of four cold-formed steel channels (BOCCFSs) of different lengths, thicknesses, and cross-section sizes (OB90 and OB140). The load-displacement curves, failure modes, and maximum compression strength values were analyzed in detail. The tests showed that the failure modes of the OB90 specimens transformed from a large deformation concentration induced by local buckling to flexural buckling with the increase in the slenderness ratio. The failure modes of all OB140 specimens were deformation concentration, except for one long specimen, whose failure mode was flexural buckling. When the slenderness ratios of the specimens were less than 55, the failure modes were controlled by local buckling. Finite element models were built using ABAQUS software and validated to further analyze the mechanical behavior of the BOCCFSs. A parametric study was conducted and used to explore a wide design space. The numerical analysis results showed that when the screw spacing was between 150 mm and 450 mm, the difference in the maximum compression strength values of the specimens was less than 4%. The applicability and effectiveness of the design methods in Chinese GB50018-2002 and AISI-S100-2016 for calculating the compression strength values of the BOCCFSs were evaluated. The prediction methods based on the assumptions produced predictions of the strength that were between 33% to 10% conservative as compared to the tests and the finite element analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2022

In cold-formed steel (CFS) structures, such as trusses, transmission towers and portal frames, the use of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections are becoming increasingly popular. In such an arrangement, intermediate welds or screw fasteners are required at discrete points along the length, preventing the angle sections from buckling independently. Limited research is available in the literature on axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections. The issue is addressed herein. This paper presents an experimental investigation reported by the authors on back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections with intermediate stiffeners under axial compression. The load-axial shortening behaviour along with the deformed shapes at failure are reported. A nonlinear finite element (FE) model was then developed, which includes material non-linearity, geometric imperfections and modelling of intermediate fasteners. The FE model was validated against the experimental test results, which showed good agreement, both in terms of failure loads and deformed shapes at failure. The validated finite element model was then used for the purpose of a parametric study comprising 96 models to investigate the effect of longer to shorter leg ratios, stiffener provided in the longer leg, thicknesses and lengths on axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections. Four different thicknesses and seven different lengths (stub to slender columns) with three overall widths to the overall depth (B/D) ratios were investigated in the parametric study. Axial strengths obtained from the experimental tests and FE analyses were used to assess the performance of the current design guidelines as per the Direct Strength Method (DSM); obtained comparisons show that the current DSM is conservative by only 7% and 5% on average, while predicting the axial strengths of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections with and without the stiffener, respectively.