Numerical studies of pull-through failures in cold-formed steel battens at sub-zero temperatures

Cold-formed steel (CFS) roof and wall cladding systems comprising thin, high strength steel battens and claddings are popularly used in the building industry worldwide. These cladding systems have been observed to encounter failures under combined snow and strong wind actions during blizzards. Significant damage is caused by the disengagement of the entire roof/wall cladding when localised pull-through failures occur in thin-walled steel battens at the batten to truss/rafter screw connections due to a splitting mechanism around the screw head. This study uses detailed finite element analyses of the pull-through failures of a range of batten configurations under combined wind and sub-zero temperature conditions. Suitable finite element models capable of simulating the pull-through failures of battens were developed and validated using experimental results, followed by detailed numerical parametric studies. The main outcomes of this study are accurate design equations and capacity reduction factors essential for predicting the pull-through capacities of CFS battens at sub-zero temperatures.