Seminar - Cao Hung Pham - Tension Field Action for Cold-Formed Sections in Shear

Wednesday 9 March 2011, 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Civil Engineering Conference Room

Dr Cao Hung Pham
School of Civil Engineering
University of Sydney

Abstract:
For shear, the design of sections for strength is usually governed by the web plate subjected to shear force and undergoing shear buckling, or yielding in shear or a combination of the two. For webs with relatively high depth-to-thickness ratios, after buckling, the shear stress distribution in the web changes and significant post-buckling strength may occur as a result of the development of a diagonal tension which is called “Tension Field Action”. Recently, the full set of shear test results for the plain lipped C- and SupaCee® sections performed at the University of Sydney show that the post-buckling strength was attributed to tension field action which was provided by the increased transverse restraints created by bolted connections over the full depth of the web panel at the supports and loading point. This may improve the post-buckling strengths of the web in shear.
The paper describes finite element analyses using the program ABAQUS to model tests of the plain lipped C- and SupaCee® channel sections in shear. The results of the finite element nonlinear simulations are compared with the tests where bolted connections over the full depth of the web panel were used. Further, in order to extend the range of test data using finite element models, studies of such effects reducing the bolting at support and loading points are also included to provide further guidance on the availability of Tension Field Action in particular.



Biography
Dr Cao Hung Pham obtained his BE degree in 2000 from University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and ME degree in 2003 from University of New South Wales, Australia. At University of Sydney, Dr. Pham completed his PhD degree in Civil Engineering in 2010. Currently he is an ARC Postdocotral Fellow at Sydney University, working with Emeritus Professor Greg Hancock. His research interests lie in structural stability, steel structures, and thin-walled structures.