Abstract

The Effects of Braced Web in Cold-Formed Steel Beams

Author(s): J. Samuel and P. S. Joanna

The web of a built-up beam is prone to buckling if the web is thin. Stiffeners are provided to increase the post-buckling strength in plate girders. Introducing diagonal bracings is a new concept to increase load carrying capacity in ultimate state. I-section is the most popular steel beam cross-section in use universally. This paper presents the results of the experimental study done on six built-up I-section cold-formed steel (CFS) beams. The specimens were tested with symmetrical two point loading. The nature of loading divides the beam into three equal zones with a central zone subjected to constant flexure and two outer zones in constant shear. The beams were tested by varying the position of diagonal bracings in the central zone and outer zones. The results are compared and contrasted. From the study, it is found that the cold-formed steel beam with braced web in outer zone had the highest load carrying capacity compared to the other beams.