Optimization of cold‐formed steel products: achievements, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Given the current expansion in the use of cold-formed steel, the emergence of increasingly complex cross-sectional shapes, the continual advances in manufacturing and the increasingly important quest for efficient and sustainable construction solutions, the optimization of cold-formed steel products is an exceedingly relevant research field. The prolific publication of research papers in this area encountered over the past decade is testament to this. This paper aims to explore the general state-of-the art of this research field, as well as present a summary of research conducted at the University of Sheffield over the past five years and place it in a wider context. Further advancements needed in this field are also discussed.

A Critical Review on Optimization of Cold-Formed Steel Members for Better Structural and Thermal Performances

“…The growing world population and limitations of natural resources have increased the need for more cost-effective structural systems to implement a sustainable economy and society [44]. CFS can be rolled to form a great variety of shapes, which provides a unique opportunity to further increase the load-carrying capacity of these cross-sections through optimization processes [45][46][47]. However, CFS members have some drawbacks concerning its thermal behavior, primarily induced by the high thermal conductivity of the steel, which can result in a large amount of heat loss or gain through the thermal bridging and adversely affect the thermal performance of the buildings [18,48].…”

Searching for a compromise solution in cross-section size optimization problems of cold-formed steel structural members

“…A brief review of optimization problem formulation, calculation techniques and algorithms, including gradient-based methods, stochastic search, artificial intelligent methods, and ant colony methods, have been discussed in the paper [4]. The optimization methodologies for CFS structural members have been also summarized and presented systematically in the paper [5,6].…”

Residual stresses in cold-formed steel members: Review of measurement methods and numerical modelling

“…Therefore, deformation mechanisms during roll forming and press braking are substantially different even if the same shape was obtained. Industrial production of complex sections is expected to be slower using press braking than roll forming, so the latter is being preferred to reduce costs and times [31,32]. Press braking can be competitive for short runs or simple section geometries [33].…”