Web crippling behaviour and design of aluminium SupaCee sections

Abstract

AbstractSupaCee sections are addressed as one of the innovative section profiles which was introduced to the Cold‐Formed Steel (CFS) industry in the past decade. Longitudinal stiffeners and return lips are the unique features which ensured the better structural performance in terms of bending and shear for CFS sections. However, web crippling performance of CFS SupaCee section was the critical aspect to employ them in the industry as the concentrated loads could induce web crippling failures. Hence, there is a necessity to address web crippling performance of any innovative profiles to utilize them in appropriate locations. On that note, aluminum sections are now emerging in the industry as load bearing profiles considering their lightweight nature, corrosion resistance, ease of fabrication and high specific strength. Aluminium sections are considered as a replacement for CFS sections for modular constructions where the necessity of light weight is higher considering the transport costs and fabrication costs. However, web crippling performance of aluminum sections has to be analyzed to ensure the utilization in modular constructions. Hence, a superior section among available sections in terms of structural performances, aluminium SupaCee section, was considered for this study. Accordingly, a comprehensive numerical study was conducted considering various parameters such as section depth, thickness, bearing length and yield strength, after the successful validation process of the numerical models with the experimental scenarios of End‐Two‐Flange (ETF) loading condition. Ultimately, the results were compared with key parameters and suggestions and recommendations were stated for the utilization aluminum SupaCee sections in the industry.