Improved Design Shear Method for the Bolted Cold-Formed Steel Clip-Angle Connector

In this paper, the ultimate shear capacity of the 3-bolt cold-formed steel clip-angle between the cold-formed steel (CFS) beam and column is evaluated through 54 laboratory tests. A series of experiments were conducted by varying (1) thickness, and (2) aspect ratio ($L/D$) of clip-angles for different depths ($D$) and widths ($A$). The experimental program consists of three phases of tests: (1) Phase-I: direct shear load tests on clip-angle attached to a CFS column through 4.6-grade bolts; (2) Phase-II: CFS column replaced with a hot-rolled steel (HRS) column, since the CFS column experienced bearing failure in Phase-I; and (3) Phase-III: 10.9-grade bolts used instead of 4.6, as the 4.6-grade bolts subjected to bolt shear failure in Phase-II. Failure modes observed in the test specimens are (1) shear local buckling of clip-angle; (2) column bearing failure; (3) bolt shear failure; and (4) tear failure in clip-angle. Design shear equations from the literature, for the bolted clip-angle, were found to be inefficient for the high-grade steel ($f_y=375\mathrm{MPa}$ to 550 MPa), and conservative for the commonly available low-grade steel ($f_y=275\mathrm{MPa}$). Hence a new shear strength equation is suggested for the clip-angle from the collated data of the present study and past research work. A comparative study between 2-bolt and 3-bolt clip-angle configurations was conducted to evaluate the increase in shear strength. Reliability studies were conducted, and corresponding resistance and safety factors were suggested for the design shear strength calculation corresponding to load and resistance factor design (LRFD), limit state design (LSD), and allowable strength design (ASD) methods.