Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections
Abstract
This study investigates the shear behavior of cold-formed steel single-lap screw connections both experimentally and numerically, with a particular focus on the critical influence of edge distance. A total of 20 specimens were tested to evaluate the effects of sheet thickness, screw diameter, number of screws, screw arrangement, and edge distance on connection load-carrying capacity and failure modes. The experimental results showed that increasing the sheet thickness nearly doubled the connection capacity, while the effect of screw diameter was found to be limited. Conversely, a reduction in horizontal edge distance had a critically adverse effect on the connection performance. In addition, detailed finite element models were developed in ABAQUS and validated against the experimental data. The numerical models accurately predicted the load-displacement behavior, load-carrying capacities, and failure modes, demonstrating that they serve as a reliable tool for future parametric studies.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Scientific Research Projects Coordination of Aksaray University
Project Number
Scientific Research Projects Coordination of Aksaray University under project number BAP-2025–030
Ethical Statement
The study is complied with research and publication ethics.
Thanks
This study has been supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination of Aksaray University under project number BAP- 2025–030. The authors would also like to thank Prof. Dr. Babür DELİKTAŞ, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, for his help in numerical analysis.
References
- M. T. Huynh, C. H. Pham, and G. J. Hancock, "Experimental behaviour and modelling of screwed connections of high strength sheet steels in shear," Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 146, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.tws.2019.106357.
- Eurocode, EN 1993-1-3 (2006) (English): Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - Part 1-3: General rules - Supplementary rules for cold-formed members and sheeting, Brussels: The European Union Per Regulation, 2006, pp. 133.
- AISI, AISI S100-16: North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, Washington: American Iron and Steel Institute, 2016, pp. 505.
- C. A. Rogers and G. J. Hancock, "Screwed connection tests of thin G550 and G300 sheet steels," Journal of Structural Engineering-Asce, vol. 125, no. 2, pp. 128-136, 1999, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(1999)125:2(128).
- M. T. Huynh, C. H. Pham, and G. J. Hancock, "Design of screwed connections in cold-formed steels in shear," Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 154, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.tws.2020.106817.
- K. Y. Cai and H. X. Yuan, "Testing, numerical and analytical modelling of self-drilling screw connections between thin steel sheets in shear," Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 182, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.tws.2022.110292.
- S. S. Chao, L. F. Lu, and H. H. Wu, "Shearing Bearing Capacity of Screwed Connections of Thin Steel Sheets," International Journal of Steel Structures, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 577-590, 2019, doi: 10.1007/s13296-018-0144-5.
- H. W. Zhang, F. L. Wang, J. Yang, and X. E. Wang, "Evaluation on the behaviour of screwed CFS joints subjected to combined loading," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 180, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2021.106582.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Steel Structures
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
March 24, 2026
Submission Date
November 4, 2025
Acceptance Date
February 24, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 1
APA
Oruç, R., & Bölükbaş, Y. (2026). Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(1), 373-393. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058
AMA
1.Oruç R, Bölükbaş Y. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15(1):373-393. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058
Chicago
Oruç, Ramazan, and Yakup Bölükbaş. 2026. “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 (1): 373-93. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058.
EndNote
Oruç R, Bölükbaş Y (March 1, 2026) Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15 1 373–393.
IEEE
[1]R. Oruç and Y. Bölükbaş, “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 373–393, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058.
ISNAD
Oruç, Ramazan - Bölükbaş, Yakup. “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 15/1 (March 1, 2026): 373-393. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058.
JAMA
1.Oruç R, Bölükbaş Y. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;15:373–393.
MLA
Oruç, Ramazan, and Yakup Bölükbaş. “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 373-9, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058.
Vancouver
1.Ramazan Oruç, Yakup Bölükbaş. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Insufficient Edge Distance on the Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Screw Connections. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Mar. 1;15(1):373-9. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1817058