Stability and bearing capacity of arch-shaped corrugated shell elements: experimental and numerical study

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents problems related to the numerical modeling of profiled steel sheets used as self-supporting arch structures for roof covering. The rules of preparing and full analysis of a set of numerical models of these elements with a different level of complexity are given. The models are evaluated by comparing numerical results with the results of extended experimental tests performed by 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method. For each model the comparison of numerical and experimental results has been made for samples of a single-wave trapezoidal profile with corrugated web and lower flanges subjected to compression and bending. The full-field analysis allows to determine the allowed simplification of numerical models which do not affect in significant way the reliability of the results. The proposed methodology is the first step in the development of full assessment methodology for different types of self-supporting arch structures produced by ABM technology.