Experimental study on axial compression behavior of cold-formed thin-walled steel stud walls with stiffened-web

A total of ten cold-formed thin-walled steel stud walls were tested under axial compression. The section types of wall studs were channels with complex edge stiffeners (S1 section), channels with complex edge stiffeners and V-type web stiffeners (S2 section) and Σ-shaped section with complex edge stiffeners (S3 section). The influences of section types, web holes and sheathing on the axial compression behavior of walls were studied. It is shown that when the stud section types are S1 section, S2 section and S3 section, the bearing capacity ratios of OSB and that of gypsum board are 1: 1.36: 1.50 and 1: 1.34: 1.60, respectively. Distortional buckling becomes the main failure mode of wall studs. Under the same conditions, the bearing capacity of the stiffened-web stud walls with holes decreases by 12.0% and that of unstiffened stud walls descends by 1.6%. Based on the direct strength method of single axially compressed member, the axial compression bearing capacity calculation method of walls (perforated and non-perforated) considering the restraint of sheathing was researched. The comparison between calculated and test values illustrates that the bearing capacity calculation method of walls based on the existing direct strength method is relatively accurate to predict the bearing capacity of unstiffened stud walls, but unconservative in the prediction of walls with web-stiffened studs. It is worth mentioning that the bearing capacity calculation method in consideration of local-distortion buckling interaction for walls with web-stiffened studs is in good agreement with the test values. © 2021, Editorial Office of Journal of Building Structures. All right reserved.