Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 218-230 (2025)
LOCAL BUCKLING MECHANISM OF COLD-FORMED STEEL
BUILT-UP COLUMNS: EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION
Yan-Chun Li 1, Yan Lu 2, Ai-Hong Han 1, Wei-Hua Li 1, Xin-Wei Wang 1 and Zong-Liang Wu 1, *
1 School of Civil Engineering And Communication, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
2 School of Civil Engineering Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P.R.China
*(Corresponding author: E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Received: 25 March 2024; Revised: 3 January 2025; Accepted: 8 January 2025
DOI:10.18057/IJASC.2025.21.3.4
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ABSTRACT
This study aims to providing in-depth insights into the local buckling mechanisms of cold-formed steel built-up box section (CFSBBS) columns. The CFSBBS is constructed from C- and U-section components that are connected using self-drilling screws at the flanges. The investigation encompasses both experimental and numerical analyses of buckling behaviors, failure characteristics, the interaction of plates, and the ultimate bearing capacity of the columns. The dimensions of the specimens were meticulously designed to facilitate the examination of pure local buckling modes, utilizing finite strip software CUFSM and the direct strength method. A finite element model was established to perform parametric studies aimed at elucidating the impact of the built-up flange plates on the buckling performance of CFSBBS columns. Three cross-sectional types were developed to assess the effect of screw spacing on the failure modes and ultimate bearing capacities of the CFSBBS columns. The results indicate that the in-plane deformation of the C-section flanges is partially constrained by the U-section flanges. The shape of the local buckling half-wave of the C-section may change due to the interaction of buckling between the C- and U-section component. Nevertheless, the influence on the ultimate bearing capacity is relatively small, within 10%. The findings of this research will serve as a foundational basis for future investigations.
KEYWORDS
Cold-formed steel built-up box section columns, Local buckling, Screw spacing, Experiment, Numerical simulation, Plate group effect
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