Mechanical properties of corner material in cold-formed steel structure : from normal strength to high strength

Abstract

Cold-forming effect varies from normal strength steel to high strength steel due to the different chemical compositions and mechanical properties of parent materials. To date, research studies on material characterisation of cold–formed steels have been mainly focusing on the normal strength structural steel, while systematic research on high strength structural steel remains scarce. In this paper, an experimental investigation into changes in mechanical properties of high strength steel undergoing various levels of plastic deformation is firstly presented. The test results have been combined with other available high strength steel data, and compared to the normal strength steel data. Of the analysis results indicated, unified predictive equations, modified from Karren’s model in 1967 can predict the strength enhancement behaviours of normal strength and high strength steel, utilising the ultimate-to-yield strength ratio of parent materials fu,f/fy,f and inner radius-to-thickness ratio after cold–forming ri/t. Moreover, the decreases in the Young’s modulus, ultimate strain and elongation at fracture of normal strength and high strength steel after cold-forming can be predicted with no further grouping required. Statistical evaluation results confirm the accuracy of the proposed predictive expressions. This paper extends the scope of the strength enhancement equation in current north American cold-formed steel design code AISI S100–16 to high strength steels with grade up to 960 MPa, and provides key predictive material equations that can be further used in the design or numerical modelling of cold-formed steel structures.