Finite element analysis of cold formed steel c-purlins with inclined web

Abstract EN

Cold-formed steel C-shapes are commonly used as purlins carrying loads not parallel to their webs in most cases and leading to stresses in both major and minor directions of the sections.

The author had carried out previous studies which showed the effect of web inclination on the overall behavior of the C-shaped purlins and compared the results with C-shaped purlins having perpendicular webs[1].

The previous study has been carried out using the finite strip method.

In this research, the behavior of C-purlins having perpendicular and inclined webs have been carried out using finite element analysis to show the effect of web inclination on the capacity of the C-purlins.

The members selected are widely used in practice and have (h / t) that varies from 66 to 133.

The thicknesses of the used C -purlins are 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm.

The height of the used sections is 200 mm.

Four different sections have been studied to show the effect of the web inclination angle on the behavior of the C-purlins.

The web angle varies from 0 to 11 degrees.

The finite element analysis method has been used to compare the overall behavior of C-purlins having perpendicular and inclined webs.

Results are discussed and recommendations are given for the use of the C-purlins having inclined webs.