THIN-WALL

THIN-WALL
Lipped Channel in Bending
The program THIN-WALL will be used to analyse a cold-formed lipped channel in

bending.
A diagram of a lipped channel section is shown below.
The lipped channel is a C20015 section with depth D = 203 mm, width B = 76 mm, lip
length L = 16 mm and thickness T = 1.5 mm.
The material is steel with Elastic Modulus E = 200,000 MPa, Shear Modulus G =
76,923 MPa and Poisson’s Ratio ν = 0.3.
1
CREATE THE MODEL
Start THIN-WALL and select File > New Job.
Input a name for the Job. This will also be the name of the THIN-WALL data file
which will have the extension DAT.
Input a name for the Title.
Select a Directory to store the data file.
To analyse a section in THIN-WALL, the user must subdivide the cross-section into
an assemblage of rectangular elements. The ends of the elements intersect at nodes.
Select Data > Nodes and Elements to input the node coordinates and element data for
the cross-section.
Select Data > Element Properties to input the material properties and thickness.
Alternatively, THIN-WALL can generate the node and element data for a range of
standard sections. The user is required only to input the dimensions of the section. This
feature of the program will save the user a lot of time.
2
Select Data > Standard Section to view the range of standard sections.
Select C-Section and input the dimensions for the C20015 section and click OK.
The C20015 section will appear in the main window as shown below.
3
Click Node Numbers and Element Numbers on the right of the screen to view the
node and element numbers, as shown below.
The C20015 is to be analysed under bending moment about the horizontal x axis.
Select Data > Stress Resultants and input any value for the Bending Moment Mx.
A negative value for Mx causes compression in the top flange.
4
CROSS-SECTION ANALYSIS
The next step is to run the cross-section analysis which calculates the section properties
and stresses in the section.
Bending moment causes longitudinal stress in the section. The cross-section analysis
calculates the longitudinal stress at each node and updates the node data to include the
new longitudinal stresses calculated. The longitudinal stresses are used in the finite
strip buckling analysis.
Select Analysis > Cross-Section Analysis to perform the cross-section analysis.
Click Longitudinal Stress on the right of the screen to view the longitudinal stress
distribution on the cross-section, as shown below.
Click Centroid and Shear Centre to view the location of the centroid (C) and shear
centre (S), as shown below.
5
After the cross-section analysis is run, some section properties appear on the left of the
screen.
To view all the results of the cross-section analysis, select Results > Section
Properties and the results below will appear.
Select Results > Longitudinal Stress to view the value of the longitudinal stress at
each node, as shown below.
6
BUCKLING ANALYSIS
To run the finite strip buckling analysis, select Analysis > Buckling Analysis.
After the buckling analysis is run, click Graph on the right of the screen to view a
graph of buckling stress versus buckle half-wavelength, as shown below.
This graph is sometimes called a “signature curve” because every cross-section has a
unique graph.
The graph shows two distinct minimum points.
The first minimum stress of 290.1 MPa occurs at a half-wavelength of 110 mm and
represents local buckling of the section.
The second minimum stress of 241.0 MPa occurs at a half-wavelength of 600 mm and
represents distortional buckling of the section.
The distortional buckling stress is lower than the local buckling stress. This means the
section will fail by distortional buckling.
At long lengths, the section buckles in a flexural-torsional mode.
7
Select Window > Section to view the section in the main window.
Click Buckled Shape on the right of the screen to view the buckled shape of the section
at different half-wavelengths.
Continue clicking Buckled Shape until the local buckling mode at 110 mm appears,
as shown below.
The local buckling mode consists of deformation of the web, flange and lip elements
without movement of the line junctions between the flange and web and the flange and
lip stiffener.
Local buckling is the predominant buckling mode for very thin sections which are fully
braced against flexural-torsional buckling.
8
Continue clicking Buckled Shape until the distortional buckling mode at 600 mm
appears, as shown below.
This mode is called distortional buckling because movement of the line junction
between the flange and lip stiffener occurs without a rigid body rotation or translation
of the cross-section.
Distortional buckling is the predominant buckling mode for moderately thin sections
with intermediate bracing.
9
Continue clicking Buckled Shape to view the flexural-torsional buckling mode at
5,000 mm, as shown below.
Flexural-torsional buckling consists of a rigid-body translation and rotation of the

whole cross-section.
Flexural-torsional buckling is the predominant buckling mode for long unbraced

members.
10
DESIGN MOMENT CAPACITY
In THIN-WALL, the design moment capacity of the section can be calculated by the
Direct Strength Method (DSM). The DSM is an alternative to the Effective Width
Method in calculating the design capacity of a thin-walled member. The method uses
the elastic buckling stresses calculated by THIN-WALL with an appropriate strength
curve to calculate the member design capacity. The direct strength method has the
advantage that design calculations for complex sections are very simple, provided
elastic buckling solutions are available.
Select Data > Buckling Stresses to input the data that will be used by the DSM. Under
Member Type select Beam and under Bending Axis select X. Input the values for the
Buckling Stresses and the Yield Stress.
Select Analysis > Direct Strength Method to calculate the design moment capacity.
Select Results > Design Capacities to view the design moment capacities for local
buckling, distortional buckling and flexural-torsional buckling. The design moment
capacity of the C20015 is 2.956 kNm which is the minimum of these three values.
11

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Lipped Channel in Bending

The program THIN-WALL will be used to analyse a cold-formed lipped channel in

A diagram of a lipped channel section is shown below.

Start THIN-WALL and select File > New Job.

Input a name for the Title.

Select a Directory to store the data file.

Select Analysis > Cross-Section Analysis to perform the cross-section analysis.

The graph shows two distinct minimum points.

At long lengths, the section buckles in a flexural-torsional mode.

Flexural-torsional buckling consists of a rigid-body translation and rotation of the

Flexural-torsional buckling is the predominant buckling mode for long unbraced

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