Flexural behaviour and design rules for SupaCee sections with web openings

Abstract

Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) has been used to a great extent due to the industry uptake given its merits with the key being its high strength-to-weight ratio. Besides, innovative section profiles are constantly introduced to uplift the structural applicability of CFS sections. SupaCee section is a novel section with enhanced structural performance due to its sectional attributes such as longitudinal web stiffeners and return lips. However, the necessity of web openings (holes) to provide service integrations is not considered adequately so far in previous studies with SupaCee sections. Hence, this study reports a comprehensive assessment on flexural performance of SupaCee sections with web openings. Accordingly, numerical analysis was carried out which followed by the validation of the elaborated Finite Element (FE) model and the development of parametric studies considering key parameters such as depth, thickness, yield strength, web opening ratio and hole spacing. Results from the numerical studies are discussed and compared with existing design standards. New design provisions are proposed to predict the flexural capacity of SupaCee sections with web openings. Moreover, FE model of Lipped Channel Beam (LCB) was developed and analysed with similar parameters of SupaCee sections. The comparison of LCB and SupaCee sections with and without web openings are reported and based on the flexural capacity comparisons; recommendations are stated to replace conventional CFS sections by SupaCee sections.