STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SPACERS ON THE ULTIMATE CAPACITY OF INTERMEDIATE LENGTH THIN WALLED SECTION UNDER COMPRESSION

This paper reports the results of experimental, analytical and numerical studies on the effect of spacers on the behaviour and ultimate capacity of intermediate length Cold-formed steel (CFS) open section column. A channel section is considered. Totally, four columns were experimented with hinged-hinged end condition. The section properties and selection of column length were obtained by performing elastic buckling analysis using CUFSM software. Finite Element models incorporating the geometric, material non linearities and initial geometric imperfection of the specimens were developed by using ANSYS and its accuracy was verified using the experimental results. Following the verification, a finite element parametric study was carried out by varying the depth and number of spacers. Experimental and numerical strength of open sections were compared with the predicted resistance by DSM – AISI S100:2007, AS/NZS: 4600- 2005, Eurocode 3 and IS: 801-1975. Effects of spacers on the ultimate load capacity of the column have been examined. The results are presented in the form of design charts. It is concluded that depth and number of spacers have significant influence on the behaviour and strength of the columns. Based on the nonlinear regression analysis the design equation was proposed for the selected section.