NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF LIGHT STEEL FLOOR TRUSSES UNDER UNIFORM DISTRIBUTED LOADS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/rpgpqd40Keywords:
Light Steel Framing (LSF); Experimental Analysis; Numeric Model Analysis; Deck Beam Truss.Abstract
Due to the increase in the use of Steel Framing systems on buildings in Brazil, as well as the lack of studies on the behavior of some of its elements under dead and live forces, this work was formulated to find the relation between numerical and experimental models, and defining relations between them for a better understanding of these systems in service. For this purpose, experimental tests were conducted on light steel frame (LSF) beam trusses used on decks and combined dead and live loads pre-established in standards. The experimental system was developed, consisting of three Light Steel Frame trusses, an OSB board, and a water tank. Seeking the correct load distribution, the water tank was filled, and the water level was controlled; in addition, the volume water flow rate was also measured with a flowmeter. Thus, only the central truss had its deformation results measured using digital comparators. Moreover, alongside the experimental analysis, numeric models of beams and shells were held on Finite Element Method (FEM), operated on the commercial software ANSYS Workbench. The deemed models were of three-dimensional shell geometry and two-dimensional beam geometry with and without eccentricity. Furthermore, the results were evaluated after the analysis, providing recommendations for modeling Light Steel Frame deck trusses. In conclusion, the geometric model, recommended for modulation and simulation, is the bi-dimensional beam model showing the eccentricity of web ligations. Additionally, this model has accurate results and is similar to the actual behavior of the trusses studied.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Christovam de Moraes Weidlich, Guilherme Fleith de Medeiros, Zacarias Martin Chamberlain Pravia

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