ABSTRACT

Keywords: cold-formed steel, finite element analysis, ANSYS, slotted angle , buckling, eigen buckling

The design of cold-formed steel frames and beam-columns used in industrial storage racks is Complex because of the significant perforations in the columns.In addition, the columns usually have open cross-sections and thin walled, making it vulnerable to torsional-flexural buckling and local buckling. Many attempts are made in order to predict buckling capacities of perforated cold-formed steel sections. Previous research shows that finite element method can be used effectively to predict buckling capacities if perforated cold-formed steel sections.

In this study the effect of orientation of cross-sectional area on buckling of different crosssections created from slotted type of cold formed steel sections by analyticalmethod which is finite element analysis in this case.This project also describes effect of spacer plates on buckling load capacities ofdifferent cross-sections created from slotted type of cold- formed steel sections by finiteelement method.

Analytical study includes analysis of different models created from cross-sections coldformed slotted angle sections with and without spacer plates. In total 48 different models were created with 4 different cross-sections, 6 different lengths, and 3 different spacings. These models were analyzed by eigen bucklinganalysis method for magnitude of buckling load and identification of failure mode.

For validation purpose, Experimental study was carried out, which includes testing of one model (six samples) experimentally to findout buckling load and identify failure mode. Thus ultimately validating all the analytical resultsobtained through commercial software package ANSYS.

It was concluded that by proper selection of cross-sections we can double buckling load capacities. Also study indicated that by introduction of spacer plated we can improve buckling load capacities of slotted angle sections but the magnitude of increment was not significant.`

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