A new Eurocode-compliant design approach for cold-formed steel sections

Abstract

A new, Eurocode-compliant design approach based on the Direct Strength Method (DSM) combined with EN 1993-1-3 was developed for the design of thin-walled cold-formed steel sections. The new design approach transfers cross-sectional resistance according to DSM, based on numerical elastic buckling analyses on the gross cross-section, into the global stability check according to EN 1993-1-3. Experimental investigations on various perforated and unperforated cold-formed sections in compression and bending serve to verify the new design approach. In addition, a numerical model was developed, it was calibrated on the test results and used for further parametric analyses on the load-carrying capacity of cold-formed sections.