FLANGE CURLING IN PROFILED STEEL DECKS

The occurrence and magnitude of flange curling deflections in profiled cold-formed steel decking panels is investigated experimentally. The test panels examined were a roll-formed standing seam panel, and a bra ke-pressed trapezoidal panel. The test specimens were loaded in pure f lexure and the load-response characteristics, and differential deflect ions of flanges relative to webs, were recorded for each specimen up t o ultimate collapse. Estimates of flange curling deflections based on specifications contained within the Eurocode 3 (1993 draft) design sta ndard are found to be comparable to experimentally determined deflecti ons. A number of alternative curling models are developed and compared to the experimental curling behaviour. The effect of unrestrained lon gitudinal edges on curling deflections is determined and incorporated into the models.