Full-scale tests and finite element analysis of arched corrugated steel roof under static loads

Arched Corrugated Steel Roof (ACSR) is a kind of thin-walled steel shell, composing of arched panels with transverse small corrugations. Four full-scale W666 ACSR samples with 18m and 30m span were tested under full and half span static vertical uniform loads. Displacement, bearing capacities and failure modes of the four samples were measured. The web and bottom flange in ACSR with transverse small corrugations are simplified to anisotropic curved plates, and the equivalent tensile modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio of 18m span ACSR were measured. Two 18 m-span W666 ACSR samples were analyzed with the Finite Element Analysis program ABAQUS. Base on the tests, the limit bearing capacity of ACSR is low, and for half span loading, it is 74-75% compared with the full span loading. When the testing load approached to the limit value, the bottom flange at the sample's bulge place locally buckled first, and then the whole arched roof collapsed suddenly. If the vertical loads apply along the full span, the deformation shape is symmetric, but the overall failure mode is asymmetric. For half span vertical loading, the deformation shape and the overall failure mode of the structure are asymmetric. The ACSR displacement under the vertical loads is large and the structural stiffiness is low. There is a little difference between the FEM analysis results and testing data, showing the simplify method of small corrugations in ACSR and the building techniques of FEM models are rational and useful.