ANALYTICAL STUDY ON LIGHT GAUGE STEEL HOLLOW FLUTED COLUMNS UNDER AXIAL LOADING

Cold-Formed Steel Columns (CFSC) have provided its usefulness in the structural applications of the constructions like individual structural framing members and panel decks. The advantage of cold rolled steel is that it can be utilized for the production of elements with required shape to length of required dimensions. High strength to weight ratio is achieved in cold-rolled products. In this project, an attempt has been made in order to investigate the axial load behavior of light gauge steel hollow fluted column. The behavior of columns is evaluated both theoretically and analytically using ANSYS and the results are compared. In the analytical work, nine sections were axially loaded and their corresponding axial shortening values are noted. From the results it is evident that at any particular load, the sections with flutes will have less axial shortening than sections without flutes and the axial shortening for rectangular fluted column (RFC) is less when compared to triangular fluted columns (TFC).The hollow columns (HC) having lesser seismic mass and the fluted columns with high strength and stiffness in combination with cold rolled steel structures makes the structure safer.