Pilot study: lateral braced C-sections under bending

The overall behavior under uniform load of cold-formed steel C-sections assemblies was investigated. Each test assembly consisted of C-sections acting as beams having a track section to restrain its ends. A lateral brace to restrain the C-sections from rotation was provided at mid-span. To better understand the influence of the brace on the flexural behavior, an experimental investigation was carried out with particular emphasis placed on the study of the effect of the mid-span brace connection when wallboard was attached to the tension flange. The tested moment capacities are compared to predictions based on the 1996 edition American Iron and Steel Institutesʹ Specification for design of cold-formed steel structural members.