FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF UNFASTENED COLD-FORMED STEEL CHANNEL SECTIONS WITH WEB HOLES UNDER END-TWO-FLANGE LOADING AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a finite element investigation on cold-formed steel (CFS) channel sections with circular web holes under end-two-flange (ETF) loading condition and subjected to elevated temperatures. The stress strain curve for G250 CFS with 1.95 mm thickness at elevated temperatures was taken from Kankanamge and Mahendran and the temperatures were considered up to 700 oC. To analyse the effect of web hole size and bearing length on the strength of such sections at elevated temperatures, a parametric study involving a total of 288 FE models was performed. The parametric study results were then used to assess the applicability of the strength reduction factor equation presented by Uzzaman et al. for CFS channel-sections with web holes under ETF loading from ambient temperature to elevated temperatures. It is shown that the reduction factor equation is safe and reliable at elevated temperatures.