Behaviour & Design of Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Structural Members

When – Tuesday 29th July 2025

Where – Room 460, Building 405, University of Auckland - 20 Symonds Street, Auckland Central, Auckland.

Agenda –
17:30 pre-presentation refreshments
18:00 presentation

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Abstract

This presentation offers an introduction of the behaviour and design of cold-formed steel (CFS) structural members, integrating core theoretical principles, modern design standards, and advanced computational techniques. It begins with a discussion of buckling phenomena and introduces established design methodologies such as the Effective Width Method (EWM) and the Direct Strength Method (DSM), in accordance with AS/NZS 4600 and AISI S100. The focus will then be on the structural performance and design of CFS warping-restrained beam-columns under combined compression and bending. The presentation evaluates the predictive accuracy of DSM and various methods found in the literature, identifying their limitations under realistic boundary and loading conditions. To overcome these limitations, a novel strength prediction model is introduced, based on a general trinomial expansion incorporating distinct exponent parameters. This formulation characterises the interaction between axial compression and bending through curved surface representations as a function of slenderness ratios. A comparative assessment of the accuracy across design methods is also presented. Finally, the presentation concludes with an overview of recent developments and innovations being led by HERA.

Biography

Dr Maryam Hasanali is a structural research engineer at Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA), where her work focuses on developing innovative design solutions for the metal industry. At HERA, she prioritises developing design tools and guides based on industry feedback to support engineers with practical and efficient solutions. She also leads research projects, collaborates with stakeholders to advance steel design practices, and contributes to workforce development through training and education.

She brings over a decade of research and consulting experience across New Zealand and Iran, specialising in the seismic design, analysis, and assessment of diverse structural systems, including reinforced and post-tensioned concrete, hot-rolled and cold-formed steel. Her expertise includes structural optimisation, the design of lightweight systems, and the implementation of advanced seismic control strategies to improve performance under dynamic loading.

Her PhD research at the University of Auckland focused on the structural behaviour and design of cold-formed steel (CFS) components subjected to combined gravity and lateral loads. Through extensive investigations, she contributed to the development of precise design methodologies and analytical models that more accurately predict the strength, particularly under combined actions. Her work also introduced innovative detailing strategies to restrain warping effects, improving the performance and resilience of thin-walled steel elements. This research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals.

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Presentation Recording:

Behaviour & Design of Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Structural Members