Bolted beam-column moment connections between cold-formed steel members

Twelve beam-to-column connections between cold-formed steel sections consisting of three beam depths and four connection types were tested in isolation to investigate their behavior based on strength, stiffness and ductility. Resulting moment-rotation curves indicate that the tested connections are efficient moment connections where moment capacities ranged from about 65% to 100% of the connected beam capacity. With a moment capacity of greater than 80% of connected beam member capacity, some of the connections can be regarded as full strength connections. Connections also possessed sufficient ductility with rotations of 20 mRad at failure although some connections were too ductile with rotations in excess of 30 mRad. Generally, most of the connections possess the strength and ductility to be considered as partial strength connections. The ultimate failures of almost all of the connections were due to local buckling of the compression web and flange elements of the beam closest to the connection.