• 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.23 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 2017

Cold-formed lipped channel columns (CFLCCs) have been widely used in light gauge steel constructions. The distortional buckling is one of the important buckling modes for CFLCCs and the distortional buckling critical load depends significantly on the rotational restrain stiffness generated by the web to the lipped flange. First, a simplified explicit expression for the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange has been derived. Using the expression, the characteristics of the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange have been investigated. The results show that there is a linear coupling relationship between the applied forces and the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange. Based on the explicit expression of the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange, a simplified analytical formula has been derived which can determine the elastic distortional buckling critical stress of the CFLCCs subjected to axial compression. The simplified analytical formula developed in this study has been shown to be accurate through the comparisons with results from the distortional buckling analyses using the ANSYS finite element software. The developed analytical formula is easy to apply, and can be used directly in practical design and incorporated into future design codes and guidelines.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.381-394
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• 2020

The structural performance of cold-formed steel (CFS) built-up battened columns were numerically investigated in this paper. The built-up column sections were formed by connecting two-lipped channels back-to-back, with a regular spacing of battens plates, and have been investigated in the current study. Finite element models were validated with the test results reported by the authors in the companion paper. Using the validated models, the parametric study was extended, covering a wider range of overall slenderness to assess the accuracy of the current design rules in predicting the design strengths of the CFS built-up battened columns. The parameters viz., overall slenderness, different geometries, plate slenderness (b/t ratio) and yield stress were considered for this study. In total, a total of 228 finite element models were analyzed and the results obtained were compared with current design strength predicted by Effective Width Method of AISI Specifications (AISI S100:2016) and European specifications (EN1993-1-3:2006). The parametric study results indicated that the current design rules are limited in predicting the accuracy of the design strengths of CFS built-up battened columns. Therefore, a design equation was proposed for the AISI and EC3 specifications to predict the reliable design strength of the CFS Built-up battened columns and was also verified by the reliability analysis.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.383-394
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• 2013

Cold-formed profiles have been largely used in the building industry because they can be easily produced and because they allow for a wide range of sections and thus can be utilized to meet different project requirements. Attainment of maximum performance by structural elements with low use of material is a challenge for engineering projects. This paper presents a numerical study aimed at minimizing the weight of lipped and unlipped cold-formed channel columns, following the AISI 2007 specification. Flexural, torsional and torsional-flexural buckling of columns was considered as constraints. The simulated annealing method was used for optimization. Several numerical simulations are presented and discussed to validate the proposal, in addition to an experimental example that qualifies its implementation. The ratios between lips, web width, and flange width are analyzed. Finally, it may be concluded that the optimization process yields excellent results in terms of cross-sectional area reduction.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.221-236
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• 2006

The objective of this work is to describe the main steps involved in the derivation of a GBT (Generalised Beam Theory) formulation to analyse the vibration behaviour of loaded cold-formed steel members and also to illustrate the application and capabilities of this formulation. In particular, the paper presents and discusses the results of a detailed investigation about the local and global free vibration behaviour of lipped channel simply supported columns. After reporting some relevant earlier GBT-based results dealing with the buckling and vibration behaviours of columns and load-free members, the paper addresses mostly issues concerning the variation of the column fundamental frequency and vibration mode nature/shape with its length and axial compression level. For validation purposes, some GBT-based results are also compared with values obtained by means of 4-node shell finite element analyses performed in the code ABAQUS.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.621-640
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• 2017

This paper reports the numerical investigation conducted to study the influence of Local-Distortional (L-D) interaction mode buckling on post buckling strength erosion in fixed ended lipped channel cold formed steel columns. This investigation comprises of 81 column sections with various geometries and yield stresses that are carefully chosen to cover wide range of strength related parametric ratios like (i) distortional to local critical buckling stress ratio ($0.91{\leq}F_{CRD}/F_{CRL}{\leq}4.05$) (ii) non dimensional local slenderness ratio ($0.88{\leq}{\lambda}_L{\leq}3.54$) (iii) non-dimensional distortional slenderness ratio ($0.68{\leq}{\lambda}_D{\leq}3.23$) and (iv) yield to non-critical buckling stress ratio (0.45 to 10.4). The numerical investigation is carried out by conducting linear and non-linear shell finite element analysis (SFEA) using ABAQUS software. The non-linear SFEA includes both geometry and material non-linearity. The numerical results obtained are deeply analysed to understand the post buckling mechanics, failure modes and ultimate strength that are influenced by L-D interaction with respect to strength related parametric ratios. The ultimate strength data obtained from numerical analysis are compared with (i) the experimental tests data concerning L-D interaction mode buckling reported by other researchers (ii) column strength predicted by Direct Strength Method (DSM) column strength curves for local and distortional buckling specified in AISI S-100 (iii) strength predicted by available DSM based approaches that includes L-D interaction mode failure. The role of flange width to web depth ratio on post buckling strength erosion is reported. Then the paper concludes with merits and limitations of codified DSM and available DSM based approaches on accurate failure strength prediction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.17 no.1 s.74
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

This paper is to evaluate the load carrying capacities of cold-formed steel columns subject to combined axial load and bending moment. A combined strength experiment is carried out using full-scale 24 specimens of lipped channel section with embossment in web. An eccentric axial load is applied in varying member-length and eccentric distance which produces an end-moment of the column. The predictions of the AISI specification and the Eurocode are compared with the experimental results, and it is shown that all of these codes are reasonable on the whole in relation to the experimental results.

• 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.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2018

Thin-walled cross-sections can be optimized to enhance their resistance and progress their behaviour, leading to more competent and inexpensive structural system. The aim of this study is to afford a methodology that would facilitate progress of optimized cold formed steel (CFS) column section with maximum ultimate strength for practical applications. The proposed sections are designed to comply with the geometrical standards of pre-qualified column standards for CFS structures as well as with the number of industrialized and practical constraints. The stiffening evaluation process of CFS lipped channel columns, a five different cross section are considered. The experimental strength and behaviour of the proposed sections are verified by using the finite element analysis (FEA). A series comprehensive parametric study is carried out covering a wide range of section slenderness and overall slenderness ratio of the CFS column with and without intermediate web stiffeners. The ultimate strength of the sections is determined based on the Direct Strength Specification and other design equation available from the literature for CFS structures. A modified design method is proposed for the DSM specification. The results indicate that the CFS column with complex edge and intermediate web stiffeners provides an ultimate strength which is up to 78% higher than standard optimized shapes with the same amount of cross sectional area.