• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-75
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• 2004

The paper derives, validates and illustrates the application of GBT-based formulae to estimate distortional critical lengths and bifurcation stress resultants in cold-formed steel rack-section columns, beams and beam-columns with arbitrarily inclined mid-stiffeners and four support conditions. After a brief review of the Generalised Beam Theory (GBT) basics, the main concepts and procedures employed to obtain the formulae are addressed. Then, the GBT-based estimates are compared with exact results and, when possible, also with values yielded by formulae due to Lau and Hancock, Hancock and Teng et al. A few remarks on novel aspects of the rack-section beam-column distortional buckling behaviour, unveiled by the GBT-based approach, are also included.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.333-345
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• 2020

In the past, many efficient profiles have been developed for cold-formed steel (CFS) members by judicious intermediate stiffening of the cross-sections, and they have shown improved structural performance over conventional CFS sections. Most of this research work was based on numerical modelling, thus lacking any experimental evidence of the efficiency of these sections. To fulfill this requirement, experimental studies were conducted in this study, on efficient intermediately stiffened CFS sections in flexure, which will result in easy and simple fabrication. Two series of built-up sections, open sections (OS) and box sections (BS), were fabricated and tested under four-point loading with same cross-sectional area. Test strengths, modes of failure, deformed shapes, load vs. mid-span displacements and geometric imperfections were measured and reported. The design strengths were quantified using North American Standards and Indian Standards for cold-formed steel structures. This study confirmed that efficient profiling of CFS sections can improve both the strength and stiffness performance by up to 90%. Closed sections showed better strength performance whereas open sections showed better stiffness performance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-458
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• 2022

Cold-formed steel (CFS) sections are thin-walled, therefore, more susceptible to different types of geometric imperfections. Global type of geometric imperfections has a significant impact on the load-carrying capacity of flexural members. This paper reports an experimental study that discusses the influence of global imperfections on the flexural response of CFS built-up I-beams composed of two lipped channels, with simply supported ends, under four-point loading. Global imperfections of magnitude over eight times the maximum permissible ones were induced in the specimens, leading to their distress. Using various simple stiffening schemes, the capacity and stiffness of the distressed specimens were improvised. The performance comparisons were made based on the maximum loads resisted, flexural stiffnesses offered, and failure modes experienced by the specimens. As experimental data on such distressed specimens are currently lacking in the literature, the test results of the present study will provide the necessary data needed by future researchers to numerically extend this study further, which will help in the development of necessary design guidelines for the same. The stiffening schemes significantly improved the structural efficiency of distressed specimens in terms of strength and stiffness, by over 60%. As a result, an effective and time-saving solution to such realistic structural engineering problems is given.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2005

This paper presents the results of a series of tests carried out on hollow and concrete-filled coldformed steel sections subjected to axial and bending forces. The effects of eccentricity ratio and strength of in-fill on the behaviour of these sections were studied. A total of forty-eight medium sized columns and six beams were tested to failure. Extensive measurements of material properties, strains, axial shortening and lateral deflection were carried out. Interaction of local and overall buckling was observed in the tests. Failure mode observations were local buckling coupled with overall buckling. A description of the specially fabricated end fixtures for applying eccentric loading to the columns and to simulate pinned end condition is also presented. The experimental results of hollow columns are compared with the existing Indian, British and American codes of practice and the results of concrete-filled columns are compared with EC4 recommendations. It is seen that in the case of hollow columns predictions based on British and American codes of practice and in the case of concrete-filled columns predictions based on EC4 recommendations agree reasonably well with the experimental results. From the experiments it is seen that the provision of in-fill substantially increases the ultimate load carrying capacity of the order of one and a half to two times and the increase in strength of the in-filled concrete from a low grade concrete of compressive strength 24.94 MPa to a high grade concrete of compressive strength 33.26 MPa increases the ultimate load carrying capacity by one and a half times irrespective of the eccentricity of loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1581-1598
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• 2015

A concentric braced steel frame is a very efficient structural system because it requires relatively smaller amount of materials to resist lateral forces. However, primarily developed as a structural system to resist wind loads based on an assumption that the structure behaves elastically, a concentric braced frame possibly experiences the deterioration in energy dissipation after brace buckling and the brittle failure of braces and connections when earthquake loads cause inelastic behavior. Consequently, plastic deformation is concentrated in the floor where brace buckling occurs first, which can lead to the rupture of the structure. This study suggests reinforcing H-shaped braces with non-welded cold-formed stiffeners to restrain flexure and buckling and resist tensile force and compressive force equally. Weak-axis reinforcing members (2 pieces) developed from those suggested in previous studies (4 pieces) were used to reinforce the H-shaped braces in an inverted V-type braced frame. Monotonic loading tests, finite element analysis and cyclic loading tests were carried out to evaluate the structural performance of the reinforced braces and frames. The reinforced braces satisfied the AISC requirement. The reinforcement suggested in this study is expected to prevent the rupture of beams caused by the unbalanced resistance of the braces.