Optimal Design of Cold-formed Channel Sections
Guo Yanlin
(Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University)
R.Schardt
(Institute of Steel Construction, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany)

Abstract: A theoretical investigation is presented on the prediction of ultimate load-carrying capacity of a cold-formed thin-walled channel section with post local bu ckling interaction between plate elements forming the section in the inelastic range. The initial deflection of the plate elements, curvature effect on the corners of section, and cold-formed strain hardening effect are considered in the analysis. A comparison is made between a constant load eccentricity and a constant compression eccentricity in post local buckling range. Differences of ultimate strength between them are obvious for a larger section ratio of flange to web width (bf/bw). The optimal load eccentricity and optimal section ratio in the case of the constant load eccentricity are presented, which are useful in the design of cold-formed thin-walled channel sections.
Keywords: thin-walled section, ultimate load-carrying capacity, optimal design.