Efficient Beam-To-Column Connection For Cold-Formed Steel Framing

Usage of cold-formed steel (CFS) sections as primary structural members in the construction of residential and industrial buildings has increased due to their advantages such as light weight, ease of handling, speed of erection and overall economy. Comprehensive design guidelines for the evaluation of strengths of CFS structural members are available in the literature and codes of practices. However, the guidelines for connection design are scanty and fail to accommodate the influence of connection behavior on the performance evaluation of frames. CFS buildings and frames are constructed by using stud-walls, which consist of closely spaced studs, track and wall boards, connected through self-drilling screws (SDS). These systems were reported to have poor performance under lateral loads. Based on the studies, it is inferred that the existing CFS framing systems result in poor seismic performance and the alternate framing systems were also reported to fail prematurely. Further, the seismic guidelines proposed for CFS framing systems are very minimal and the need for carrying out studies on CFS components under cyclic loading towards evaluating their seismic performance. The present technology is aimed to develop a CFS framing system, which would solve the above issues and thereby CFS framing systems can be classified as a ductile framing system.

This technology has huge potential to use in  

• Construction of residential buildings in the moderate seismic zones 
• Adaptation of the mass-housing scheme as a prefabricated system.
• Augmentation of the lateral load resistance of the masonry systems.

• Ductile CFS framing system
• Potential to use them in moderate seismic zones
• Easy to assemble the framing system
• Less construction time
• Feasibility for prefabricated construction