Experiments on cold-formed steel moment-resisting connections with bolting friction-slip mechanism

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the cyclic behaviour of cold-formed steel (CFS) moment-resisting (MR) beam-to-column connections utilising a friction-slip mechanism within a web-bolted connection arrangement. The bolting slip back and forth movements are accommodated through slotted holes to dissipate seismic energy within the CFS MR connections. Nine full-scale experiments were conducted on connections with and without slip for comparison purposes. The slip connections were designed to undergo slip prior to the initiation of local buckling in the CFS beam. This avoids premature local buckling, which could significantly degrade strength, particularly for connections with lower thickness beams. The slip connections, as a result, produce a greater energy dissipation capacity and ductility factor by up to 79% and 2.5 times, respectively, than that of the corresponding slip-resistant connections.