Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Cold-Formed Steel Storage Platforms with Perforated Channel Beams

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Storage platforms utilize cold-formed channel and sigma sections for main and crossbeams.
• Understanding the flexural capacity and buckling behavior of these structures is crucial for safe design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate the flexural capacity of storage platform main beams.
• To validate numerical models (GMNIA) against experimental results.
• To assess the accuracy of Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-3) effective section approach.

Main Methods:

• Four-point bending tests on eight specimens (250-500 mm height, 3-4 mm thickness, S350GD+Z steel).
• Global-Local Second-Order Analysis (GMNIA) using Idea StatiCa Member v24.1 with measured properties and imperfections.
• Sensitivity study on local and distortional buckling imperfection modes.

Main Results:

• Observed behavior involved interaction of distortional and local buckling modes with yielding.
• GMNIA analyses accurately predicted ultimate bending resistance (FEM-to-test ratios: 0.93–0.98).
• Eurocode 3 effective section approach provided accurate predictions (calculated-to-test ratios: 0.96–1.01).

Conclusions:

• The effective section approach in Eurocode 3 is reliable for predicting the ultimate resistance of these storage platform beams.
• GMNIA provides accurate predictions, with results minimally affected by imperfection mode combinations.
• Crossbeam-to-web connections may offer a stiffening effect, enhancing overall capacity.