Development of new types of bolted joints for cold-formed steel moment frame buildings

It has been a growing trend to use cold-formed steel (CFS) sections as primary structural members in low multi-story buildings due their high strength-to-weight ratios, ease of construction and flexibility manufacturing variety cross-sectional shapes. However, CFS frames are not widely used seismic regions; one important reason is that the less redundant joints generally have ductility energy dissipation capacity inherently thin-walled properties. To address this issue, paper presents an experimental programme corresponding results on two types beam-to-column joints, which assembled adjacent surfaces built-up column paper. Different from previous research, proposed potentially suitable connect T-, L- cruciform for framed-structure buildings. was observed tests beams buckled before occurrence obvious damage tested joints. The satisfied design philosophy ‘strong connection-weak beam’. Joint Type 2 (JT2) exhibits overall higher performance terms strength, ductility, than 1 (JT1). JT1 satisfies rotational requirement Ordinary Moment Frames (OMFs) while JT2 Special (SMFs), defined AISC Seismic Provisions. connection zones within both can be classified semi-rigid according approach recommended by Eurocode 3: Part 1–8, with exhibiting stiffness JT2. Overall, connected very slender bolts, so far shown moderate provide resistance applied framed regions, improved further work.