Skip to the content of the web site.

RESEARCH PROJECTS -- COMPLETED

Click on the project title to view a PDF file of the report.

Testing of Bolted Cold Formed Steel Connections in Bearing (With and Without Washers)

By J.A. Wallace, R. M. Schuster, R. A. LaBoube

Contained in this report are the test results of double and single shear cold-formed steel bolted connections failing in bearing. Connections with and without washers were studied. The test data was compared with the current S136-94 and AISI-96 methods for determining the bearing strength of cold-formed steel bolted connections. In addition, comparisons were also made with the new bearing approach currently being considered by AISI-96 and with a recommended approach resulting from this study. Calibrations in accordance with the AISI-96 Commentary were also carried out to establish the factors of safety and respective resistance factors for AISI-96 and the resistance factors for S136-94.

Calibrations of Bolted Cold Formed Steel Connections in Bearing (With and Without Washers)

By J.A. Wallace, R. A. LaBoube, R. M. Schuster

Contained in this report are the calibration results of single and double shear cold-formed steel bolted connections failing in bearing. Connections with and without washers were evaluated. The test data was compared with the current AISI-96 Specification, the proposed AISI-96 Specification ballot and S136-94 Standard methods for determining the bearing strength of cold-formed steel bolted connections. In addition, comparisons were made with a new proposed method resulting from this study. Calibrations were carried out in accordance with the AISI-96 Commentary and Chapter F of the AISI-96 Specification to establish the resistance factors for AISI-96 and S136-94 and the respective factors of safety for AISI-96.

Calibrations of Cold Formed Steel Welded Connections

By F.M. Tangorra, R. M. Schuster, R. A. LaBoube

In the current AISI-96 Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (from hereon simply referred to as AISI) different resistance factors are given for the various cases of welded connections in Section E2, however, only one factor of safety is given for all of these cases. Having only one factor of safety is not consistent with the different resistance factors. Based on this, a calibration study was initiated to establish the respective factors of safety in conjunction with the different resistance factors currently used in AISI. Since the CSA S136-94 (from hereon simply referred to as S136) committee for the design of cold formed steel members is considering adopting the current AISI welded connection approach as part of the North American Specification initiative under the NAFTA umbrella, resistance factor calibrations for the S136-94 Standard were also carried out.