Numerical simulations on cold-formed steel channels with flat slotted webs in shear. Part II: Ultimate shear strength

This paper presents results of a numerical parametric study on the ultimate shear strength of cold-formed steel channels with flat slotted webs. The study was performed on nonlinear finite element models developed in ANSYS and validated against test data. The effects of perforation pattern, channel flange width, flange lip length, steel yield stress, and aspect ratio on the ultimate shear strength of the channels were numerically investigated on the models with realistic and test setup boundary conditions. Equations for predicting the shear strength of channels with flat slotted webs were developed. The equations account for the effects of the studied parameters on the shear strength of the channels and showed a good agreement with the finite element analysis results when post-buckling shear strength due to tension field action was taken into account.