Design of screwed steel sheeting connection at ambient and elevated temperatures

Cold-formed profiled steel roof sheeting can be directly connected to the top chord of a steel roof truss through self-tapping screws. At ambient temperatures, neither EN 1993-1-8 nor EN 1993-1-3 can be used directly for this type of connection. Besides, no design rules are available in EN 1993-1-2 for designing screwed connections in fire. A 3D Finite Element (FE) model for a single-lap shear screwed connection is developed using ABAQUS software. After the validation by tests, the model is used to predict the ultimate resistance of connections at both ambient and elevated temperatures. Further, the effects of edge and end distances on the connection resistance are investigated. Based on the analyses results, revised design equations for predicting the connection resistance are proposed. The design resistance is calibrated by testing and FE analyses results according to the procedure given in EN 1990 and the partial safety factor is derived.

► Bearing, shear-out and net-section failures under lap-shear load are investigated.
► Effects of plate curling and contributions of frictional forces among the parts are analyzed.
► Effects of end distance and edge distance on the connection resistance are investigated.
► Current available design equations are revised.
► The partial safety factor is calibrated using First Order Reliability Method (FORM).