Studio Computazionale di Collegamenti a Momento in Acciaio Sagomato a Freddo con Infill di Calcestruzzo = Numerical Study on the Structural Performance of Concrete-Infilled Cold-Formed Steel Moment-Resisting Connections

Cold-formed steel (CFS) structural elements are gaining growing attention in modern construction due to their superior material efficiency and economic advantages over traditional hot-rolled steel members. However, their application in seismic regions poses significant challenges, primarily due to the thin-walled nature of CFS profiles, which makes them susceptible to local and distortional buckling. Additionally, conventional CFS bolted moment connections often exhibit limited structural and seismic performance. To overcome these limitations, this research introduces a novel connection enhancement technique that incorporates concrete infill in the beam-column joint region. The objective is to improve overall structural integrity by mitigating buckling effects and enhancing load transfer capabilities. A finite element model is developed using ABAQUS software, accounting for nonlinear material properties and interaction behaviors, and is validated through comparison with experimental results. The performance of the proposed connection is critically evaluated against existing methods reported in the literature to demonstrate its effectiveness in seismic applications.