Investigation and Prediction of Buckling and Flexural Behavior in Perforated Staggered Cold-Formed Steel Beams

This paper investigates the prediction of buckling and flexural behavior in cold-formed steel (CFS) sections, specifically focusing on built-up SupaCee and lipped Cue (C) sections through experimental analysis. CFS beams with staggered slotted perforations are being used more often in light gauge steel construction to improve fire and energy performance. However, CFS beams’ load-bearing capability is compromised due to the lack of conclusive assessments in previous studies regarding design expressions for predicting the structural performance of slotted perforated CFS flexural elements. Parameters like the size of CFS beams, spacing between groups, rows of slots, and yield strength are crucial criteria. The study delves into the effects of dimensions of CFS beams, rows and row groupings of slots, staggered slotted perforations, and yield strength on the potential for local buckling of perforated staggered slotted CFS beams during bending. Additionally, a comprehensive nonlinear finite element modeling is conducted. The findings indicate that geometric parameters have nearly equal contributions to the flexural capacity and the specimens’ deflection.