EXPERIMENTAL COMPRESSION TESTS OF COLD-FORMED STEEL (CFS) TO VERIFY ITS CODE-BASED STRENGTH

Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) is a good construction material because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, that is, it exhibits efficient load carrying capabilities in combination with lightweight characteristics. Although CFS already being used construction, information on structural performance locally-produced the Philippines scarce. To date, authors have not found any experimental study done regarding CFS. In this study, C-section and Z-section are studied since these members exhibit buckling failures may be difficult to predict due complexity their section geometry. The objective paper present sections when subjected concentric axial compression both experimentally computationally. For part, were using hydraulic jack. High-speed video cameras capture different failure modes. computational aspect, provisions National Structural Code (NSCP) calculate strength members. A total 80 specimens 5 lengths thicknesses tested. It was calculations NSCP consistent results tests. shorter lengths, distortional prevailed as main failure, while for longer torsional-flexural occurred. All predicted strengths highly conservative. Z-section, 180 6 Torsional-flexural observed majority specimens. most modes correctly, relatively compared results, thus non-conservative. Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses ANSYS conducted. Findings indicate experiment agreed well FEM results.