Experimental and numerical investigation of stabilization of thin-walled Z-beams by sandwich panels

The paper describes the experimental and numerical investigation of the stabilization of cold formed thin-walled Z-beams by sandwich panels. The scope of the laboratory tests included sandwich panels freely placed on Z-beams and sandwich panels mechanically fastened to Z-beams by a diverse number of fasteners. It has been shown in laboratory experiments that the sandwich panels provide lateral stabilization of the thin-walled Z-beams. Moreover, the capacity of the thin-walled beam is determined by the number of fasteners along its length. The static and low cyclic loads were investigated. The FE model defined and presented in the paper allows for the accurate determination of the kinematical and mechanical elastic response of the thin-walled Z-beam stabilized by the sandwich panels, provided the specific bow imperfection of both the beams and the specific material parameters of the beams and the sandwich panel layers.