Elastic buckling analysis of cold-formed steel built-up sections with discrete fasteners using the compound strip method. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abbasi, M.; Khezri, M.; Rasmussen, K.J.R.; Schafer, B.W.
• Is Part Of: Thin-walled structures. Volume 124(2018)
• Page Start: 58
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Compound strip method -- Cold-formed steel -- Built-up section -- Buckling analysis -- Discrete fasteners; Thin-walled structures -- Periodicals; 690.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2017.11.046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8231

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, the compound strip method is applied to the stability analysis of cold-formed steel built-up sections. A beam element with adjustable stiffness properties is adopted to represent the utilised fastener and the associated stiffnesses of the connection elements are incorporated in the global stiffness matrix of the built-up sections. The presented method allows for modelling arbitrarily-located discrete fasteners in the context of the semi-analytical finite strip method. The proposed numerical technique is verified against finite element solutions through various numerical examples and shown to be both accurate and versatile. Some typical and also complex built-up sections with various fastener configuration and end boundary conditions are analysed to evaluate the influence of fastener spacing. The extent of composite behaviour in built-up sections is determined by investigating the enhancement of buckling capacity and changes in the corresponding buckling modes. The simplicity of the proposed technique expedites extensive parametric studies of cold-formed built-up sections and facilitates the search for optimal placement of fasteners and choice of section geometry. Highlights: A new method is presented for determining the elastic buckling of cold‑formed steel built‑up sections using the compound strip method. The developed formulation in the context of the semi-analytical finite strip method allows for modelling arbitrarily located discrete fasteners. The extent of composite behaviour in built-up sections is determined for different fastener spacing ratios by investigating the enhancement of buckling capacity. The simplicity of the CSM expedites extensive parametric studies and facilitates the search for the optimal structural design of built‑up sections.