Behaviour of laced built-up cold-formed steel columns: Experimental investigation and numerical validation

This study is focussed on the performance evaluation of built-up cold-formed steel (CFS) columns under monotonically increasing axial compression loading. Five test specimens of built-up columns were fabricated using four CFS angle sections connected by single lacing systems. Width-to-thickness ratios and slenderness ratios of chord and lacing elements, and height of columns were varied in the test specimens. Column strengths, axial load vs. displacement response, mode of failure, and deformed configurations were the main parameters evaluated in the experimental investigation. In addition, a numerical study was conducted to predict the behaviour of laced built-up CFS columns using a finite element software ABAQUS. The developed numerical models were validated using the test results. Test results were used to develop the column strength curves for built-up laced CFS columns. Finally, the results of this study were compared with the design strength predictions by North American Standards and European Standards for CFS sections.