07.37: Development in calculation of stressed skin effect upon experimental and numerical research results

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe opportunities of improvement in stressed skin design formulae in the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) publication are reviewed in this paper.Stressed skin effect is the diaphragm action provided by the in‐plane stiffness of a diaphragm assembly. The diaphragm is composed of panel assemblies transmitting in‐plane forces to the main frames, providing considerable stabilizing effect to the building. The stiffening effect of diaphragm assemblies depends on their components: type of supporting frame, type of sheeting, number of fixings and the connection between sheeting and purlins.This paper first discusses the results of an experimental analysis carried out in the Structural Laboratory of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The experimental programme aimed to study the stiffness of various diaphragm configurations. Based on the results, the principal influencing parameters are identified. The results confirm that the eccentricity of the connected members – that is out of consideration in current Eurocode provisions – play significant role in the stiffness, and thus it should be considered in design for stressed skin effect. The experimental results also served as a basis for numerical model development and calibration. The verified FE model is capable for numerical simulation of any kind of diaphragm assembly. The paper introduces the results of a parametric study aiming to extend the real experimental results by further virtual experiments.Based on the experimental and numerical results, modifications are proposed to the current Eurocode provisions, in order to capture all influencing parameters and thus to extend the applicability of the standard design model for “non‐standard” configurations that are commonly installed in practice as well.