Investigation of Web Hole Effects on Capacities of Cold-formed Steel Channel Members

Cold-formed steel structures have been widely applied in structural buildings with advantages in manufacturing, transportation and assembly. Holes can be pre-punched in the sectional members to allow technical pipes to go throughout such as electricity, water or ventilation. This affects the capacities of these such members which have been considered in the design standards in America or Australia/New Zealand. The paper, therefore, investigates the effects of web holes on the capacities of cold-formed steel channel members under compression or bending. Their capacities can be determined according to the American Specification AISI S100-16. The investigated results are the base for analysing the effects of web hole dimensions on the behaviors and capacities of cold-formed steel channel members. It was found that the capacity reductions were obtained for compressive members with the increase in hole sizes, but the flexural capacities were noticeable increase with the increase in the hole heights.