Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM
This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the axial compression behavior of perforated cold-formed steel upright profiles commonly used in pallet racking systems. The primary objective is to examine how slenderness influences the failure modes and load-bearing capacity of th...
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2025-05-01
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| author | George Taranu Serban Iacob Nicolae Taranu |
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| description | This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the axial compression behavior of perforated cold-formed steel upright profiles commonly used in pallet racking systems. The primary objective is to examine how slenderness influences the failure modes and load-bearing capacity of these structural elements. Three column lengths, representative of typical vertical spacing in industrial rack systems, were tested under pin-ended boundary conditions. All specimens were fabricated from 2 mm thick S355 steel sheets, incorporating web perforations and a central longitudinal stiffener. Experimental results highlighted three distinct failure mechanisms dependent on slenderness: local buckling for short columns (SS-340), combined distortional–flexural buckling for medium-length columns (MS-990), and global flexural buckling for slender columns (TS-1990). Finite Element Method (FEM) models developed using ANSYS Workbench 2021 R1 software accurately replicated the observed deformation patterns, stress concentrations, and load–displacement curves, with numerical results differing by less than 5% from experimental peak loads. Analytical evaluations performed using the Effective Width Method (EWM) and Direct Strength Method (DSM), following EN 1993-1-3 and AISI S100 specifications, indicated that EWM tends to underestimate the ultimate strength by up to 15%, whereas DSM provided results within 2–7% of experimental values, especially when the entire net cross-sectional area was considered fully effective. The originality of the study is the comprehensive evaluation of full-scale, perforated, stiffened cold-formed steel uprights, supported by robust experimental validation and detailed comparative analyses between FEM, EWM, and DSM methodologies. Findings demonstrate that DSM can be reliably applied to perforated sections with moderate slenderness and adequate web stiffening, without requiring further local reduction in the net cross-sectional area. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b1c871cd54e64317901014257f7906312025-08-20T02:24:47ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-01159156110.3390/buildings15091561Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSMGeorge Taranu0Serban Iacob1Nicolae Taranu2Department of Structural Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, The “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, The “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, The “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, RomaniaThis paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the axial compression behavior of perforated cold-formed steel upright profiles commonly used in pallet racking systems. The primary objective is to examine how slenderness influences the failure modes and load-bearing capacity of these structural elements. Three column lengths, representative of typical vertical spacing in industrial rack systems, were tested under pin-ended boundary conditions. All specimens were fabricated from 2 mm thick S355 steel sheets, incorporating web perforations and a central longitudinal stiffener. Experimental results highlighted three distinct failure mechanisms dependent on slenderness: local buckling for short columns (SS-340), combined distortional–flexural buckling for medium-length columns (MS-990), and global flexural buckling for slender columns (TS-1990). Finite Element Method (FEM) models developed using ANSYS Workbench 2021 R1 software accurately replicated the observed deformation patterns, stress concentrations, and load–displacement curves, with numerical results differing by less than 5% from experimental peak loads. Analytical evaluations performed using the Effective Width Method (EWM) and Direct Strength Method (DSM), following EN 1993-1-3 and AISI S100 specifications, indicated that EWM tends to underestimate the ultimate strength by up to 15%, whereas DSM provided results within 2–7% of experimental values, especially when the entire net cross-sectional area was considered fully effective. The originality of the study is the comprehensive evaluation of full-scale, perforated, stiffened cold-formed steel uprights, supported by robust experimental validation and detailed comparative analyses between FEM, EWM, and DSM methodologies. Findings demonstrate that DSM can be reliably applied to perforated sections with moderate slenderness and adequate web stiffening, without requiring further local reduction in the net cross-sectional area.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/9/1561cold-formed steelaxial compressionfinite element analysis (FEA)steel storage racks |
| spellingShingle | George Taranu Serban Iacob Nicolae Taranu Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM Buildings cold-formed steel axial compression finite element analysis (FEA) steel storage racks |
| title | Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM |
| title_full | Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM |
| title_fullStr | Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM |
| title_full_unstemmed | Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM |
| title_short | Buckling Behavior of Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Uprights: Experimental Evaluation and Comparative Assessment Using FEM, EWM, and DSM |
| title_sort | buckling behavior of perforated cold formed steel uprights experimental evaluation and comparative assessment using fem ewm and dsm |
| topic | cold-formed steel axial compression finite element analysis (FEA) steel storage racks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/9/1561 |
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