• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.207-220
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of stiffened element and edge stiffener in the behaviour and flexural strength of built-up cold-formed steel beams. An experimental and analytical analysis of CFS channel sections in four different geometries is conducted, including simple channel sections, a stiffened channel section with or without edge stiffeners. Nonlinear finite element models are developed using finite element analysis software package ANSYS. The FEA results are verified with the experimental results. Further, the finite element model is used for parametric studies by varying the depth, thickness, and the effect of stiffened element, edge stiffener and their interaction with compression flanges on stiffened built-up cold-formed steel beams with upright edge stiffeners. In addition, the flexural strength predicted by the finite element analysis is compared with the design flexural strength calculated by using the North American Iron and Steel Institute Specifications for cold-formed steel structures (AISI: S100-2007) and suitable suggestion is made.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.511-522
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• 2022

An experimental investigation to study the behaviour of connections between cold-formed steel (CFS) joist and plywood structural panel is presented in this paper. Material testing on CFS and plywood was carried out to assess their mechanical properties and behaviour. Push-out tests were conducted to determine the slip modulus and failure modes of three different shear connection types. The employed shear connectors in the study were; size 14 (6mm diameter) self-drilling screw, M12 coach screw, and M12 nut and bolt. The effective bending stiffness of composite cold-formed steel and plywood T-beam assembly is calculated based on the slip modulus values computed from push-out tests. The effective bending stiffness was increased by 25.5%, 18% and 30.2% for self-drilling screw, coach screw, nut and bolt, respectively, over the stiffness of cold-formed steel joist alone. This finding suggests the potential to enhance the structural performance of composite cold-formed steel and timber flooring system by mobilisation of composite action present between timber sheathing and CFS joist.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.629-659
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• 2016

In cold-formed stainless steel lipped channel-sections, web openings are becoming increasingly popular. Such openings, however, result in the sections becoming more susceptible to web crippling, especially under concentrated loads applied near the web opening. This paper presents the results of a finite element parametric study into the effect of circular web openings on the web crippling strength of cold-formed stainless steel lipped channel-sections for the interior-one-flange (IOF) loading condition. This involves a bearing load applied to the top flange of a length of member, away from the end supports. The cases of web openings located centred beneath the bearing load (i.e. beneath the bearing plate delivering the load) and offset to the bearing plate, are considered. Three grades of stainless steel are considered: duplex EN1.4462, austenitic EN1.4404 and ferretic EN1.4003. In total, 2218 finite element models were analyzed. From the results of the parametric study, strength reduction factors for load bearing capacity are determined, where these reduction factors are applied to the bearing capacity calculated for a web without openings, to take account the influence of the web openings. The strength reduction factors are first compared to equations recently proposed for cold-formed carbon steel lipped channel-sections. It is shown that for the case of the duplex grade, the strength reduction factor equations for cold-formed carbon steel are conservative but only by 2%. However, for the cases of the austentic and ferritic grades, the cold-formed carbon steel equations are around 9% conservative. New strength reduction factor equations are proposed for all three stainless steel grades.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.407-420
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• 2005

This study presents the strength of braced and unbraced cold-formed steel wall frames consisting of several wall studs acting as columns, top and bottom tracks, and bracing members. The strength and the buckling mode of steel wall frames were found to be different due to the change of bracing type. In addition, the spacing of wall studs is a crucial factor to the strength of steel wall frames. The comparisons were made between the test results and the predictions computed based on AISI Code. The related specifications do not clearly provides the effective length factors for the member of cold-formed steel frame under compression. This paper proposes effective length factors for the steel wall frames based on the test results. A theoretical model is also derived to obtain the modulus of elastic support provided by the bracing at mid-height of steel wall frames in this research.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.233-250
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• 2018

Back-to-back built-up cold-formed steel un-lipped channel sections are used in cold-formed steel structures; such as trusses, wall frames and portal frames. In such built-up columns, intermediate fasteners resist the buckling of individual channel-sections. No experimental tests or finite element analyses have been reported in the literature for back-to-back built-up cold-formed steel un-lipped channel sections and specially investigated the effect of screw spacing on axial strength of such columns. The issue is addressed in this paper. The results of 95 finite element analyses are presented covering stub to slender columns. The finite element model is validated against the experimental tests recently conducted by authors for back-to-back built-up cold-formed steel lipped channel sections. The verified finite element model is then used for the purposes of a parametric study to investigate the effect of screw spacing on axial strength of back-to-back built-up cold-formed steel un-lipped channel sections. Results are compared against the built-up lipped channel sections and it is shown that the axial strength of un-lipped built-up sections are 31% lesser on average than the built-up lipped channel sections. It was also found that the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Australian and New Zealand Standards were over-conservative by around 15% for built-up columns failed through overall buckling, however AISI and AS/NZS were un-conservative by around 8% for built-up columns mainly failed by local buckling.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.837-853
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• 2016

This paper presents the experimental and numerical study on the distribution of transverse and longitudinal residual stresses in cold-formed thick-walled structural steel rectangular hollow sections manufactured by indirect technique. Hole-drilling method is employed to measure the magnitude of the transverse and longitudinal surface residual stress distribution, and the effects of the residual stresses are evaluated qualitatively by sectioning method. It is shown that compared to normal cold-formed thin-walled structural hollow sections (SHS), the cold-formed thick-walled SHS has similar level of residual stress in the flat area but higher residual stresses in the corner and welding areas. Both the transverse and longitudinal residual stresses tend to open the section. In order to predict the surface residual stresses in the corners of the cold-formed thick-walled SHS, an analytical model is developed. 2D finite element simulation of the cold bending process is conducted to validate the analytical approach. It is shown that in analyzing bending for thick-walled sections, shifting of neutral axis must be considered, since it would lead to nonlinear and non-symmetrical distribution of stresses through the thickness. This phenomenon leads to the fact that cold-formed thick-walled SHSs has different distribution and magnitude of the residual stresses from the cold-formed thin-walled SHSs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.237-259
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• 2014

Wind-induced failure around screwed connections has been documented in roof and wall cladding systems made with steel sheet cold-formed panels during high wind events. Previous research has found that low cycle fatigue caused by stress concentration and fluctuating wind loads is responsible for most such failures. A dynamic load protocol was employed in this work to represent fatigue under wind effects. A finite element model and fatigue criteria were implemented and compared with laboratory experiments in order to predict the fatigue failure associated with fluctuating wind loads. Results are used to develop an analytical model which can be employed for the fatigue analysis of steel cold-formed cladding systems. Existing three dimensional fatigue criteria are implemented and correlated with fatigue damage observed on steel claddings. Parametric studies are used to formulate suitable yet simple fatigue criteria. Fatigue failure is predicted in different configurations of loads, types of connections, and thicknesses of steel folded plate cladding. The analytical model, which correlated with experimental results reported in a companion paper, was validated for the fatigue life prediction and failure mechanism of different connection types and thicknesses of cold-formed steel cladding.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.349-356
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• 2002

Cold-Formed C-section and Lipped C-section are commonly used as structural members of steel houses in Korea. Both are made of SGC41 steel. However, special Cold-Formed Sections with unique cross sectional shape have been developed and widely used in advanced countries. This research focused on the newly developed thin-walled Cold-Formed Sections which possess not only high strength and stiffness but also other advantages in construction. A series of compression tests was conducted to investigate the structural behavior of a compression member, including its load carrying capacity. Test results were compared with analytical study results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.515-533
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• 2005

Buckling and post-buckling of cold-formed steel members are rather difficult to predict due to material and geometrical non-linearity. However, numerical techniques have reached a level of maturity such that many are now successfully undertaking ultimate strength analysis of cold-formed steel members. In numerical non-linear analysis, both geometrical and material imperfections, have to be estimated and properly used. They must be codified in terms of shape and magnitude. The presented paper represents a state-of-art report, including relevant results obtained by the authors and collected from literature, on that problem.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.499-511
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• 2019

In this study, the axial compressive behavior of novel quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns with different slenderness ratio was investigated, using the experimental and numerical analysis. The axial compressive capacity and failure modes of the columns were obtained and analyzed. The finite element models considering the geometry, material and contact nonlinearity were developed to simulate and analyze the structural behavior of the columns further. There was a great correlation between the numerical analyses and test results, which indicated that the finite element model was reasonable and accurate. Then influence of, slenderness ratio, flange width-to-thickness ratio and screw spacing on the mechanical behavior of the columns were studied, respectively. The tests and numerical results show that due to small slenderness ratio, the failure modes of the specimens are generally local buckling and distortional buckling. The axial compressive strength and stiffness of the quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns decrease with the increase of maximum slenderness ratio. When the screw spacing is ranging from 150mm to 450mm, the axial compressive strength and stiffness of the quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns change little. The axial compressive capacity of quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns increases with the decrease of flange width-thickness ratio. A modified effective length factor is proposed to quantify the axial compressive capacity of the quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns with U-shaped track in the ends.