Scholar Profiles
Jennifer Tovar
2004-2005 University Scholar
Mentor: Thomas Sputo
College of Engineering
“I applied to the USP to obtain research experience that would better prepare me for graduate school. I hope to learn more about cold-formed steel properties and buckling behavior, which will in turn give me a deeper understanding of the specification, calculations and thought processes behind design.”
Jennifer is a senior majoring in civil engineering, with a concentration in structures. She is a Florida Academic Scholar and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a lifegroup leader for Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys sailing and skiing.
Research Description:
Application of the Direct Strength Method to Axially Loaded, Perforated Cold-Formed Steel Members
Cold-formed steel is often used for structural beams and columns because of its very high strength-to-weight ratio. Fabricated from thin sheet steel, members such as steel wall studs are often perforated for the installation of wiring and plumbing.
Current design requirements for cold-formed steel members can, however, be difficult and complex. Elastic buckling stresses must be calculated for local, distortional, and long-wave (either flexural or torsional) buckling states to determine which one controls. The current specification by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) uses an iterative process of complex, semi-rational equations and does not account for distortional buckling or deal well with perforated members. Recently AISI has supported the development of the “Direct Strength Method” (DSM) of design. This method allows for the determination of elastic buckling stresses for various limit states through “rational analysis” such as Finite Strip Analysis. The combination of these tools has opened a door for tremendous advancement in the design of cold-formed steel structures.
For my summer research project I have concentrated on one gap in the DSM: the lack of specific provisions for perforated members. Because the perforated wall stud is a commonly used member, the ability to more accurately calculate its predicted strength would be a useful adaptation for the practicing engineer. I am analyzing perforated steel stud cross-sections using Finite Strip Analysis software, which allows me to determine elastic buckling stresses for each buckling mode. These stresses are then used to calculate the nominal strength using the DSM predictor equations. Results are being compared with current calculation methods and experimental data to determine the best method of modeling perforations. Our observations and conclusions will be written up and submitted to the cold-formed steel community in hopes of broadening our knowledge of this topic and expanding calculation capabilities for the structural engineer.
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