A study on cold-formed steel web stiffened lipped battened channel columns

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate pin ended cold-formed steel built-up battened columns composing of two lipped channels with stiffened webs. Three types of cross section have been chosen for this study, based on the specifications of the American Iron and Steel Institute 2007. A numerical finite element procedure is set up using the ABAQUS software to validate initially by comparing with the experimental data on the behavior of web stiffened cold-formed lipped battened channel columns connected back-to-back. Local and the overall geometric imperfections are included in non-linear material model. The finite element analysis is conducted on columns of different slenderness ratios ranging from 20 to 120. The parametric study includes 66 columns with different depth and battens. Effects of web depth and number of battens on the ultimate load carrying capacity of the built-up battened column have been examined. The numerical results showed a very good agreement with the experimental data’s.The results are compared with Direct Strength Method. Based on the comparison, modification of the design equations in DSM has been proposed for the built-up battened columns.