Analysis of cold-formed zed-purlins partially restrained by steel sheeting

This paper presents an analysis model for cold-formed purlin-sheeting systems subjected to wind uplift loading in which the restraint of the sheeting to the purlin is taken into account by using two springs representing the translational and rotational restraints provided by the sheeting. The model yields a set of three differential equations corresponding to one torsion and two bending equations. The set of equations is solved by means of trigonometric series. The influence of spring stiffness and fixing position of the purlin and sheeting on the stresses resulted in the cross-section of the purlin is discussed. The results obtained from this study not only highlight the influence of the sheeting restraints on the results of stresses but also can be used as an input to the finite strip code for carrying out the linear elastic buckling analysis of the sections.