An Experimental Investigation on Cold-Formed Steel C-Shaped Connectors Under Pull-Out Failures

Abstract

Cold-formed steel C-shaped connectors are one of the most commonly used components in a connection e.g. track-to-stud connections which may be exposed to various destructive failure modes. This paper presents a detailed experimental study of 78 specimens to investigate the pull-out ultimate strength and force–displacement responses of C-shaped connectors subjected to tensile loading conditions. Effects of various design parameters were considered including plate thickness, screw diameter size, distance between the screw rows and formed corner of the C-shaped sections, number and arrangement of the screws, and internal screw rows. Then, a developed pull-out strength equation with a resistance reduction factor was proposed and the obtained results were compared against existing design standard equations. From the comparisons, the proposed equation can accurately predict the screw pull-out strength in C-shaped connectors’ webs. The results of this equation can be applied to analytical methods as mechanical characteristics of the component of C-shaped section’s web in tension or bending.