Efficiency reduction due to shear lag on bolted cold-formed steel angles

This work presents 66 new experimental tests carried out on cold-formed steel angles fastened with bolts and under tension. In order to calculate tension-members’ ultimate capacity, net-section failure is considered. The shear-lag phenomenon reduces net-section capacity. This reduction is computed through the reduction coefficient which is a function of two parameters: length of the connection and distance of the shear plane to the centroid of the cross-section. This article examines the reduction coefficient performance based upon the new tests and data available in the literature, comprising a total of 108 lab tests. A new expression for the net-section reduction coefficient is suggested.