Numerical Investigation and Design of Cold-formed Steel Angle Columns with Complex Edges under Axial Compression

Currently, cold-formed steel (CFS) is widely used in fabricated steel structures for high strength-to-weight ratio and ease for installation. However, limited research is available in the literature on the CFS angle columns with complex edges under axial compression. In this paper, the axial compressive capacity of the CFS angle columns with complex edges was numerically studied. The distortional buckling characteristics of 1008 CFS angle sections with complex edges were analyzed by finite strip software CUFSM. Detailed non-linear finite element model (FEM) was developed based on finite element program ABAQUS and verified by comparing with test results. The verification indicated that the developed FEM could well predict the ultimate strength and failure model of the specimens. Using the validated FEM, an extensive parametric study comprised of 330 models was conducted. The influences of the specimen length, the edge ratio and the limb-width ratio of the angle section on the axial compressive capacity of CFS angle columns with complex edges were evaluated. Then an improved direct strength method (DSM) was proposed based on the existing DSM. The evaluations based on tests and FEA results showed that using the modified DSM to predict the load-bearing capacity of the CFS angle columns with complex edges was feasible.