LiteSteel Beams (LSB) Under Interior and End Bearing Forces (No. R849)

Abstract

This report describes a set of bearing tests on a new range of cold-formed steel sections, LiteSteel™ Beam (LSB™), subjected to concentrated bearing load. LSB sections are manufactured using a unique dual resistance welding process which forms a channel section with hollow flanges. The tests were performed under interior one flange loading (IOF) and exterior one-flange loading (EOF) conditions. The IOF and EOF bearing loads were applied at the top flange at the centre of the beam and at the bottom flange at both ends of the beam respectively. Some different stiff bearing lengths were selected. Two flange filled tests were conducted to investigate the failure mode of IOF. This confirmed that the bearing failure mode was associated with web crippling, rather than hollow flange crushing. The test strengths are compared with the design strengths obtained using current and proposed versions of AS/NZS 4600. All tests show capacities well above those predicted by either the current AS/NZS 4600 or the draft DR 03518 (overstrength 96% or 40% respectively for IOF loading condition and overstrength 49% or 43% respectively for EOF loading condition).