Parametric-based Interactive Modeling of Cold Formed Steel Buildings

Nathan Madutujuh1
1
Director of Engineering Software Research Centre, ESRC, Bandung, Indonesia
E-mail: esrc.nathan@gmail.com, Web : www.esrcen.com

Abstract: The wide availability of high strength cold-formed steel profile enable engineers to use it for structural purpose. Due
to its low strength to weight ratio, the building with cold-formed steel profiles is suitable for region with high seismic activity.
Application of such thin and small section profile requires truss assembly for column and beams, requiring more efforts in
modeling and resulting in large degree of freedom model. An interactive parametric-based layout oriented approach has been
developed to model a cold-formed steel building easily. Using this approach, it is easier to include bracings and window/doors
openings.

Keywords: Cold-formed Steel Building, Parametric Building Modeling, 3D Building model, truss column, truss beam

Introduction

Fig.1. A Typical 2-Storeys Cold-formed Steel Building Framing

Cold-formed steel profile is currently available in size range from 20mm to 300mm, with thickness from 0.4mm to
2.0mm. Most common profiles widely used for roof truss structure is C76x35x0.8mm and C76x35x1.0mm, and for
purlin H40x30x0.5mm. Due to its thin section, it is necessary to use a rust protection system. The steel can be
protected from corrosion using galvanization with zinc or alloy of zinc, aluminium and magnesium for better
protection.

The thin section also requires smaller unbraced length to avoid buckling in compression load and compression at
top chord of truss beam. This requirement will create more structural members than standard building, usually
requires truss column and truss beam assembly. So, it is more difficult and time consuming to create a new model
for cold-formed steel building, and it will require more time to analyze and check the section capacity.

A CAD based modeling can be developed to help engineer to model any cold-formed steel building easily. The
modeler should have the following capabilities:

1. Interactive GUI
2. Parametric-based
3. Automatically generate FE mesh for analysis
4. Automatically generate gravity and wind load
5. Visual design checking and design summary according to latest AISI code
6. Color code for member types
 7. Recognize truss colum, truss beam, partition wall, window and door openings
8. Can generate material list and cutting plan for CNC production

Basic Concepts

A multistory building with typical layout for all floors basically can be projected into a floor plan layout consists of
several nodes and lines. Each line can be give a different attributes to indicate which is a truss column, which one is
truss beam, etc. Additional parameters will be defined by users to be used in generating the simple floor plan layout
into a complete 3D model as follows:

1. Truss Column
- Section type
- Width of truss column
- Maximum unbraced length
- Type of bracing : horizontal, diagonal, both
- Diagonal bracing option : one direction, alternate direction

2. Truss Beam
- Section type
- Height of truss beam
- Maximum unbraced length
- Type of bracing : vertical, diagonal, both
- Diagonal bracing option : one direction, alternate direction

3. Partition wall
- Maximum spacing of column stud
- Horizontal bracing maximum spacing

4. Door
- Door width and height

5. Window
- Window width and height
- Window elevation

6. Wind Load
- Basic wind speed
- Wind pressure
- Windward and leeward coefficient
- Rain Load
- Snow Load
- Roof Load

Cold-formed Steel Section Shape

The thin section of cold-formed steel requires complicated section shape to optimally used the steel material and to
prevent it from local buckling and warping. The calculation of section properties of such complex shape is very
difficult to do manually, the use of a computer based solution will be helpful.

Using this tool, any section shape with any number of web or flange stiffeners and lips can be computed easily and
interactively.
 Fig.2. Typical Cold-formed Steel Section Shape

Member Design Requirements

Modern cold-formed structures design requires that each member should be checked for axial tension/compression,
bending, warping, local/global buckling, for the actual section shape including the flange lip and web stiffeners.
AISI code and Euro-code now currently used Direct Strength Method that can handle above requirements. Design
Calculation of each member by hand is a time consuming and detail process that can be made faster by the help of
computer based solution.

Sample calculation for a cold-formed steel member:

Edge Lip, w = a = 0.70000 cm

Edge Lip, Isa = t*w^3/12 = 0.00186 cm4
Flange, w = (b-2*(Rc+t)-nsf*2*(rsf+t))/(nsf+1) = 2.37000 cm
Flange, Imsa/t^4 = 3.66*sqrt((w/t)^2-0.136*Emod/Fy) = 130.77146 >= 18.4
Imsa = 3.66*sqrt((w/t)^2-0.136*Emod/Fy)*t^4 = 0.00233 cm4
Isa < Imsa -> Flange edge stiffener not effective.

Check for Effective Area:

Web : nsw <= 0 or not effective stiffener

k = 4.0, w = d - 2*(rc+t) = 5.97000 cm
Ld = 1.052*(w/t)*sqrt(fa/Emod)/sqrt(k) = 0.80077
rho = (1-0.22/Ld)/Ld <= 1.0 = 0.90571
Lrw2 = (1-rho)*w = 0.56292 cm
Lrw = max(Lrw1,Lrw2) = 0.56292 cm
Lrw = 0.56292 cm

One Flange : No edge, no stiffener

w = 2.63500 cm
k = 0.42500
Ld = 1.052*(w/t)*sqrt(fa/Emod)/sqrt(k) = 1.08430
rho = (1-0.22/Ld)/Ld <= 1.0 = 0.73513
Lrf = (1-rho)*w = 0.69793 cm
Lrf = 0.69793 cm
 One Edge Lip :
w = a - (rc+t) = 0.43500 cm
k = 0.42500
Ld = 1.052*(w/t)*sqrt(fa/Emod)/sqrt(k) = 0.17900
Ld <= 0.673 :
Lrs = (1-C2)*w = 0.43500 cm

Total Gross Area, Ag = 0.88209 cm2, t = 0.065 cm

Total width reduction, Lred = Lrw + 2*Lrf + 2*Lrs = 2.82877 cm
Reduced Effective Width, Aeff = Ag - Lred*t = 0.69822 cm2

Local Buckling Effect: Aeff = 0.69822 cm2, Fnc = 723.01444 kg/cm2

Pn = Aeff*Fnc = 0.69822 * 723.01444 = 504.82318 kg
frc1 = Pcomp / (Pn/SFc) = 7.50268 / ( 504.82318/ 1.176) = 0.01748

Pno = Aeff*Fy = 0.69822 * 5500.00000 = 3840.21030 kg

frc2 = Pcomp / (Pno/SFc) = 7.50268 / ( 3840.21030/ 1.176) = 0.00230

Pn = 429.09970, Pult = 504.82318 kg

CFSB Software Development

A new specially designed software for cold-formed steel building has been developed using above requirements.
The software was developed using Delphi Language that is very useful and friendly to be used for developing
engineering software and using the vast CAD library from ESRC previous research including SANSpro software.

It requires user to input a basic floor plan and give a line a different parameter as necessary. The users must entered
controlled parameters to enable the software to generate the full 3D FE model for the problem.

Fig.3. Basic Floor Plan Layout

 Fig.4. Defining Line as Columns, Beams, Walls, Doors, Windows

Fig.5. Defining Line Parameters

After all lines has been given appropriate attribute, the control parameters must be defined by users before the full 3D FE mesh
generated.
 Fig.6. Control Parameters for FE Mesh generator

After the control parameters defined, the software can automatically generate a final 3D Finite element mesh of the cold-
formed steel building as follows:

Fig. 7. Final Generated 3D Model

Disadvantages

1. The proposed solution is only suitable for building with typical floor plan layout

Conclusions

1. Because of its lightweight and strength, Cold-formed steel section is applicable for residential structures,
especially in seismic area

2. The application of thin-walled cold-formed steel section requires smaller unbraced length that requires
more elements to be involved in a 3D building model that will be difficult to model

3. The use of a parametric cad based solution will be helpful in creating a 3D model

4. The use of a parametric cad based solution will be helpful in calculation of a complex cold-formed steel
section properties

References

American Iron and Steel Institute / AISI (2003), “Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual” , 2002 Edition.

American Iron and Steel Institute / AISI , “North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel
Structural Members NAS (2001)”, American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington, D.C.

Batoz, J.L, Tahar, M.B. (1981), Evaluation of a New Quadrilateral Thin Plate Bending Element, International
Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 18, p.1655-1677.

Chang T.Y., Saleeb A.F., Wang, P.S., Tan, H.Q. (1991), “On The Symbolic Manipulation and Code Generation for
Elasto-plastic Material Matrices”, Lewis Research Center, NASA Contractor Report 187223, Akron, Ohio.

Chen, W.F., Zhang, H. (1991), “Structural Plasticity, Theory, Problems and CAE Software”, Springer-Verlag, New
York Cook, R.D, (2002), Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis, 4th Ed., John Wiley & Sons

Crisfield, M.A. (1982), An Arc-Length Method Including Line Searches and Accelerations, International Journal for
Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 19, p.1269-1289, 1983.

Dinis, P. B., Camotim, D. (2005), “Local Plate and Distortional Post-Buckling Behavior of Cold-formed steel
columns: Elastic and Elastic-Plastic FEM analysis”,Civil Engineering Department, ICIST/IST, Technical University
of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

Hancock, G. J., Kwon, Y.B. and Bernard, E.S.(1994),“Strength Design Curve for Thin-Walled Sections Undergoing
Distortional Buckling” Journal of Const. Steel Res., Elsevier, 31, 169-186.

Kansara Kaushalkumar (2004), “Development of Membrane, Plate and Flat Shell Elements in Java”, Thesis,
Virginia Tech.

Kwon, Y.B. and Hancock, G.J. (1992), “Strength Tests of Cold-Formed Channel Sections Undergoing Local and
Distortional Buckling”, ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 118(7).

Schafer, B.W., S. Adany (2005), “Understanding and Classifying Local, Distortional and Global Buckling in Open
Thin-walled members”, Annual Conference Structural Stability Research Council, Montreal, Canada.

Nathan Madutujuh, Seminar HAKI 2008 – Pengaruh Pengaku Tengah pada Kapasitas Tekan Kolom Baja Ringan
Suwarno, H. (2006), Karakter Konstitutif Uji Tarik Spesimen Mini Baja 2WFK, Prosiding Seminar Nasional ke-12
Teknologi dan Keselamatan PLTN serta Fasilitas Nuklir, Yogyakarta.

Wei Wen Yu (2000), “Design of Cold Formed Steel Structures”, John Wiley and Sons, New York

Wu S., Li G., Belytschko T. (2005), “A DKT Shell Element for Dynamic Large Deformation Analysis”,
Communications in Numerical Methods in Engineering, p.651-674, John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Young, B. and Rasmussen, K.J.R., (1998). “Test of Cold-Formed Channel Columns”, Proc. 14th Int. Specialty
Conf. on Cold-Formed Steel Struct., St. Louis, Mo, USA, 239-264.