Experimental investigation on the load bearing capacity of built-up cold-formed steel beams

This paper is concerned with experimental tests on the load bearing capacity of innovative built-up cold-formed beams composed by different steel sheets assembled through mechanical fasteners. The experimental investigation, performed through four-point bending tests on full-scale prototypes, have been carried out in order to assess the influence of different parameters on the strength, stiffness and ultimate deflection of the beams. In particular the effects of web openings, circular web stiffeners and connection systems with different spacings are presented. The influence on the structural response of the reinforcing plates placed inside the hollow flanges of the beams is also discussed together with the failure patterns observed during the tests.