Finite Element Analyses of Cold‐formed Stainless Steel Beam with Web Openings in Shear

Abstract

In the recent years, an increase in the use of stainless steel in the construction industry has been witnessed, more specifically in exposed architectural applications and where total life economics, durability, improved resistance to aggressive environment etc. are prime deciding criteria. However, limited research has been undertaken on the shear behaviour and strength of cold‐formed stainless steel beam with web openings. Hence a numerical study was undertaken to investigate the shear behaviour and strength of cold‐formed stainless steel with web openings. Finite element models of simply supported cold‐formed stainless steel Lipped Channel Beams with web openings were developed under a mid‐span load. They were then validated with currently available shear test results and further used in a detailed parametric study. In this research, both stocky and slender cross‐sections were considered. The ultimate shear capacities from finite element analyses confirmed that currently available design equations are inadequate to determine the shear capacities of stainless steel beams with web openings. Hence improved design equations were developed for the shear capacity of cold‐formed stainless steel beams with web openings. This paper presents the details of this numerical study of cold‐formed stainless steel beams with web openings, and the results..