Cyclic axial response and energy dissipation of cold-formed steel framing members

•Cyclic behavior of thin-walled members that showed local, distortional or global buckling.•Present a cyclic loading protocol with targets based on elastic buckling properties.•Damage accumulated within one half-wave after peak compression load.•Energy dissipated decreases with increasing cross-section slenderness.•Members with intermediate cross-section slenderness might be beneficial for seismic energy dissipation.

This paper summarizes results from an experimental program that investigated the cyclic axial behavior and energy dissipation of cold-formed steel C—sections structural framing members. Fully characterized cyclic axial load–deformation response of individual members is necessary to facilitate performance-based design of cold-formed steel building systems. Specimen cross-section dimensions and lengths were selected to isolate specific buckling modes (i.e., local, distortional or global buckling). The cyclic loading protocol was adapted from FEMA 461 with target displacements based on elastic buckling properties. Cyclic response showed large post-buckling deformations, pinching, strength and stiffness degradation. Damage accumulated within one half-wave after buckling. The total hysteretic energy dissipated within the damaged half-wave decreased with increasing cross-section slenderness. More energy dissipation comes at the cost of less cumulative axial deformation before tensile rupture.