Yang (David) Cao

BE MES
Postgraduate Research Student
Centre for Advanced Structural Engineering



Department of Civil Engineering, Room 360
Phone: +61 2 9351 4392
Fax: +61 2 9351 3343
Email: D.Cao@civil.usyd.edu.au

Research project - Connections in Hollow Flange Sections

Supervisor: Dr Tim Wilkinson
Associate Supervisor: Prof Kim Rasmussen

Smorgon Steel have developed a new range of cold-formed steel sections using a patented Dual Electric Resistance Weld technique. This allows the production of structural shapes similar to those of traditional hot-rolled steel sections but with hollow flanges - which increase the torsional stiffness of the section. The result is a hollow flange channel section, which has is being marketed as the LiteSteel Beam.

My project involved the behaviour of connections. The project has commenced with research on the web side plate connection for LiteSteel Beams using traditional bolting methods. The project will continue by examining other possible connection methods that can be used quickly and easily on construction sites - this might include options such as screws, nails, welds, glues and clinching.

Other connections will be considered, such as moment connections, will be considered later in the project.

Initial research is experimental, and considerable effort is being placed on the appropriate experimental boundary conditions and instrumentation. Later research will include finite element simulation using ABAQUS.

Test rig for web side plate connections

Learning and Teaching

• CIVL2201 Structural Mechanics
• CIVL3206 Steel Structures 1