Experimental investigation of the behaviour and capacity of eaves connections in cold-formed steel portal frames
Thin-Walled Structures, cilt.231, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 231
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.tws.2026.115476
- Dergi Adı: Thin-Walled Structures
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Bolted eaves connection, Cold-formed steel (CFS), Distortional/local buckling, Portal frame, Rotational stiffness, Semi-rigid connections
- Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study presents the results of a comprehensive experimental campaign aimed at investigating the structural behaviour of bolted eaves connections between columns and rafters of cold-formed steel (CFS) portal frames. A total of 15 connection specimens were tested under monotonic loading to evaluate the influence of various critical design parameters on their rotational stiffness and failure mechanisms. These parameters included the thickness of the CFS back-to-back channel members, the bolt group length on the rafter side, the addition of flange bolts, the bracket shape, the presence of haunches, and the direction of the bending moment. The main failure mode observed was distortional buckling of the rafter channels near the connection. The findings revealed a significant reduction in capacity for short bolt group lengths due to a strong shear lag effect, which persisted even when tension flange bolts were added, but disappeared in a longer bolt group. Adding flange bolts to the connection increased the rotational post-slip stiffness by 10–29%, while adding haunches and bolts in both flanges had a positive effect on the rotational stiffness mostly by eliminating the low-stiffness slip region. The flexural strength of the eaves connections was also observed to be substantially higher under opening moments than under closing moments.