Work

Performance of CFS trusses self-drilling screws connections under extreme loads

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) roof trusses often use self-drilling screws for efficient on-site assembly. Premature screw connection failures can significantly compromise truss integrity under static and dynamic loads. Connection failures included individual screw failures under shear, bearing damage of connected parts at screw interfaces, and screw/material separation. Additionally, screw tilting impacts behavior significantly. In this paper, an experimental study of sixteen self-drilling screwed connections used in typical CFS roof trusses was performed. Connections varied in screws count from 2 to 12, sheet thickness of 0.89 mm, 1.17 mm, and 1.45 mm, and the sheet order. Increasing the number of screws to six improved the peak capacity and stiffness of the connection by 60 % and 255 %, respectively. Moreover, additional screws beyond six had minimal effect on capacity and stiffness and reduced ductility. Reversing the sheet thickness decreased initial stiffness by 30 % and peak load by 15 %, but increased energy absorption. Additionally, energy absorption of the connections increased by 45 % when increasing the number of screws from two to six screws.

Source: Structures

DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2025.108592

Authors: Mohamed Elsawi Mahmoud, Alaa El-Sisi, Ahmed Elbelbisi, Hesham Elemam, Hani Salim

Institutions: Egyptian Russian University, University of Missouri, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Zagazig University

Language: English

Topic: Structural Load-Bearing Analysis

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,510