Abstract
Current design specifications for cold-formed steel incorporate the Direct Strength Method (DSM) to design cold-formed steel members under compression. Although the DSM has been used for quite some time, its buckling strength curves have not been experimentally assessed thoroughly. This study attempts to fulfill this objective. First, a thorough literature review was conducted to inspect the buckling strength curves in the DSM, and the issues are summarized in this paper. Second, experimental data associated with compression tests of 453 solid and 228 perforated cold-formed steel columns were collected from the literature. Design parameters (e.g., elastic critical buckling loads) of the columns were then determined and assembled with the experimental results in a database to be used as a source to assess the buckling strength curves in the DSM. Finally, the LRFD resistance factors () of the DSM buckling strength curves were determined in accordance with the AISI S100. This paper highlights the level of accuracy of the buckling strength curves in the DSM.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
Financial contributions of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) (Engage Grant) and the College of Graduate Studies of the University of British Columbia were critical in conducting this study. The authors also acknowledge CMC Microsystems for providing products and services that facilitated this research, including ANSYS Multiphysics.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 3 • March 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 6, 2021
Accepted: Sep 20, 2022
Published online: Dec 29, 2022
Published in print: Mar 1, 2023
Discussion open until: May 29, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Buckling
- Cold-formed steel
- Columns
- Compression members
- Compressive strength
- Continuum mechanics
- Curvature
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Geometry
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Mathematics
- Metals (material)
- Solid mechanics
- Steel
- Steel columns
- Strength of materials
- Structural behavior
- Structural dynamics
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural strength
- Structural systems
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