Abstract:
Cold-Formed Steel (CFS)
members are widely used with openings in the
floor system for various service purposes such
as power, telecommunication, and internet
cables. Also, web crippling is becoming
vulnerable owing to the impact of web
openings. However, stiffened web openings are
expected to increase the web crippling capacity
and redeem a significant percentage of the
actual capacity of the section without web
openings while allowing the service integration.
This paper presents the numerical study on the
web crippling capacity of LiteSteel Beams
(LSB) with centred beneath stiffened web
openings under the End-Two-Flange (ETF)
load case. Although Rectangular Hollow
Flange beams are investigated with centred
beneath web openings, no studies have been
carried out regarding stiffened web openings.
Therefore, results from previous studies on the
web crippling of channel sections with stiffened
web openings were validated in terms of
strength and failure mode; a good agreement
was observed in the validation. Subsequently,
parametric study was conducted using Abaqus;
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, by
considering various section depths, bearing
plates, yield strengths, web opening ratios,
thicknesses, and stiffener lengths of the hole.
The FEA results showed much improvement in
the web crippling capacity with edge-stiffened
openings and the FEA results were analysed
with various parameters for better predictions
in terms of web crippling strengths.
