Session Dates
26 Aug 2006 - 27 Aug 2006
Abstract
The Direct Strength Method is an entirely new design method for cold-formed steel. Adopted in 2004 as Appendix 1 to the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, this paper introduces the Direct Strength Method and details some of the features of a new AISI Design Guide for this Method. The intent of this paper and the Guide is to provide engineers with practical guidance in the application of this new design method. The Direct Strength Method does not rely on effective width, nor require iteration for the determination of member design strength. Instead, the engineer must determine the elastic buckling load in local, distortional, and global buckling. This information along with the load that causes first yield are then employed in a series of simple equations to “directly” provide the strength prediction. The primary complication with the method lies in determining the elastic local, distortional, and global buckling loads; once these values are determined application of the method is straightforward. Computational tools, such as the freely available open source program CUFSM, can provide the elastic buckling loads that the Direct Strength Method requires. This paper will highlight some of the features of the new Direct Strength Method Design Guide, including design examples, tutorial materials, beam and column charts, and discussion of the finer points and details that could trip up the conscientious engineer when first using the method in design.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Research Center/Lab(s)
Wei-Wen Yu Center for Cold-Formed Steel Structures
Meeting Name
18th International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 2006 University of Missouri--Rolla, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Schafer, B. W., "Designing Cold-Formed Steel Using the Direct Strength Method" (2006). CCFSS Proceedings of International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures (1971 - 2018). 11.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/isccss/18iccfss/18iccfss-session6/11
Designing Cold-Formed Steel Using the Direct Strength Method
The Direct Strength Method is an entirely new design method for cold-formed steel. Adopted in 2004 as Appendix 1 to the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, this paper introduces the Direct Strength Method and details some of the features of a new AISI Design Guide for this Method. The intent of this paper and the Guide is to provide engineers with practical guidance in the application of this new design method. The Direct Strength Method does not rely on effective width, nor require iteration for the determination of member design strength. Instead, the engineer must determine the elastic buckling load in local, distortional, and global buckling. This information along with the load that causes first yield are then employed in a series of simple equations to “directly” provide the strength prediction. The primary complication with the method lies in determining the elastic local, distortional, and global buckling loads; once these values are determined application of the method is straightforward. Computational tools, such as the freely available open source program CUFSM, can provide the elastic buckling loads that the Direct Strength Method requires. This paper will highlight some of the features of the new Direct Strength Method Design Guide, including design examples, tutorial materials, beam and column charts, and discussion of the finer points and details that could trip up the conscientious engineer when first using the method in design.
