This paper presents the results of a parametric study conducted on cold-formed steel plain single channel columns with their ends fixed loaded through axial and uniaxial eccentricity. Numerical and theoretical investigations was done for slenderness ratio 40, 80, 100 and 120 on specimens with 150 mm web depth and a flange width of 50 mm having plate thickness ranging from 2, 2.55 and 3.15 mm. The flat width to thickness ratio of all the specimens was taken more than the limiting value. Based on the study, the effect of slenderness ratio and the effect of eccentricity on the load carrying capacity are presented. The finite Element software ABAQUS (version 6.9) was used and the variation in stress contours and the load verses deformation behaviour for the columns studied are also presented and compared. Comparison is done with the design strengths predicted using the North American Specification, Indian Standard and British Standard for cold-formed steel structures. It was observed that the design strengths predicted by the specifications and the standards are conservative for axially loaded and slightly unconservative for eccentrically loaded columns.

Keywords: Cold-formed steel, Buckling, Plain channels, Finite element analysis.