Buckling analyses of cold-formed steel lipped channel members under minor-axis eccentric load

This paper numerically investigates the buckling behavior of cold-formed steel (CFS) lipped channel members under combined compression and minor axis bending (CaMAB). The numerical models are validated against existing tests. The influences of eccentricity on buckling behaviors are studied, and the results indicate that for the eccentricity toward the web side or lipped side, the failure modes of structural members are mainly controlled by local-global buckling interactions or distortional-global buckling interactions, respectively. The maximum ultimate load capacity may occur at the eccentricity toward the lipped side. Furthermore, a comparison of the load capacity obtained from the interaction formula of the standard EN 1993-1-3 and finite element analysis (FEA) is presented. In addition, the current direct strength method (DSM) curves are modified by considering the effect of the buckling interaction. •Buckling behavior of CFS lipped channel members under CaMAB is investigated.•For eccentricity toward the web or lipped side, failure modes of CFS members are mainly controlled by LB+GB or DB+GB, respectively.•The maximum ultimate load capacity may occur at the eccentricity toward the lipped side.•The modified DSM curves are proposed to accurately estimate the strengths.