Abstract:
Bearing failure is a form of localized failure that occurs when
thin-walled cold-formed steel sections are subjected to concentrated
loads or support reactions. To determine the bearing capacity
of cold-formed channel sections, a unified design equation
with different bearing coefficients is given in the current North
American specification AISI S100 and the Australian/New Zealand
standard AS/NZS 4600. However, coefficients are not available
for unlipped channel sections that are normally fastened to
supports through their flanges. Eurocode 3 Part 1.3 includes bearing
capacity equations for different load cases, but does not distinguish
between fastened and unfastened support conditions.
Therefore, an experimental study was conducted to determine
the bearing capacities of these sections as used in floor systems.
Twenty-eight web bearing tests on unlipped channel sections
with restrained flanges were conducted under End One Flange
(EOF) and Interior One Flange (IOF) load cases. Using the results
from this study, a new equation was proposed within the AISI
S100 and AS/NZS 4600 guidelines to determine the bearing capacities
of cold-formed unlipped channels with flanges fastened
to supports. A new design rule was also proposed based on the
direct strength method.
