Experimental investigation of cold-formed steel lipped angle concentrically loaded compression members

An experimental investigation of cold-formed steel lipped angle concentrically loaded compression members is presented in this paper. The angle specimens were tested between fixed-ended conditions at various column lengths. Local buckling, flexural buckling, flexural-torsional buckling, and interaction of these buckling modes were observed in the column tests. Detailed measurements of geometric imperfections and material properties of the. specimens were conducted. The purpose of this paper is to provide test data for concentrically loaded compression members of cold-formed steel lipped angles. In addition, the test strengths were compared with the design strengths predicted using the North American Specification, and Australian/New Zealand Standard for cold-formed steel structures. It is concluded that the design strengths predicted by the specification and standard are conservative without considering the required additional bending moment using an eccentricity, of 1/1,000 of the column length.