Numerical modeling of thin-walled cold-formed steel C-sections in bending

An early work on the numerical modeling of the bending behavior of thin-walled cold-formed steel channel sections is presented. Numerical modeling issues (geometric imperfections, residual stresses, material stress-strain relationship) related with the use of finite element models are discussed on the basis of this experience. In particular, the possibility to have failure mechanisms significantly different from those predicted on the basis of a linear buckling analysis is emphasized, highlighting the need to consider the whole section behaviour rather than a single plate or sub-assemblages of plates composing the section.