Experiments and numerical predictions of cold-formed steel members with web perforations under combined compression and minor axis bending

• Published in: Engineering structures Vol. 256; p. 114022
• Main Authors: Ren, Chong, He, Yiming, Wu, Zhen, He, Wenfu, Dai, Liusi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Beam-columns; Bearing strength; Bending; Buckling; Carrying capacity; Channel section; Cold working; Cold-formed steel; Combined compression and bending; Compression; Direct Strength Method; Distortional and global buckling interaction; Load carrying capacity; Mathematical models; Numerical models; Numerical prediction; Perforation; Steel structures; Web openings; Cold-formed steel; Channel section; Combined compression and bending; Distortional and global buckling interaction; Direct Strength Method; Perforation
• ISSN: 0141-0296; 1873-7323
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114022

•Buckling behaviour of cold-formed steel perforated members under combined compression and minor axis bending is studied.•The beam-column tests and numerical modelling are performed for the study.•The specimens generally failed in the mode of distortional-global buckling interaction.•The applicability of existing design approaches is assessed and discussed.•A modified DSM distortional strength curve is proposed to accurately estimate the structural strengths. In this paper the buckling behaviour of cold-formed steel (CFS) members with web perforations under combined compression and minor axis bending is experimentally and numerically studied. A total of sixteen specimens with web openings were examined, and extra three specimens without perforation were also tested for comparisons. The load–displacement performances of all specimens are discussed. The specimens generally failed in the mode of distortional-global buckling interaction. Moreover, the effect of perforations on buckling behaviour of CFS members is studied. Comparisons of buckling behaviour between members with different perforation shapes, different perforation sizes, different perforation areas and various lengths are provided. The numerical models are developed and verified by the experimental data, and the comprehensive numerical analyses are conducted to further investigate the buckling behaviour of perforated members. The strengths obtained from the tests and the numerical analyses reveal that the current Direct Strength Method (DSM) curve overestimates the load-carrying capacity of perforated beam-columns experiencing distortional buckling and a modified DSM is then proposed.