Pioneer Space Truss Made of Cold-Formed Steel (CFS)

This research presents pioneering and unprecedented work which has direct applications in improving the structural performance of cold-formed steel buildings. The proposed product, 3D trusses made with cold-formed profiles, aims to generate safer structures due to rigidity in three directions. The conventional three-dimensional steel trusses are made with hot-rolled steel bars, generally using tubes, connected by bolts at the nodes. Although there are several types of connections to attach these members, most of them are patented and expensive. In the search for a structurally viable and cost-effective alternative to pipes, cold-formed steel (CFS) stands out. CFS is primarily manufactured from steel plates, sheets, and strips, offering several advantages such as easy fabrication, transport, and installation. This study aims to create a final product: 3D CFS trusses, which are intended to produce safer structures due to their rigidity in three directions and more economical designs by reducing stabilization elements. In this work, a technique for correcting axis eccentricity was developed, along with an original type of node, allowing CFS to substitute pipes. A formula for calculating eccentricity correction was suggested and applied to CFS 3D trusses. Additionally, the behavior of prototypes was analyzed in finite element models and experimental studies. To prove efficiency, prototypes with an area of 4.0 m2 (external dimensions of 2 × 2 m2) and 9.0 m2 (external dimensions of 3 × 3 m2) were studied. Overall, the newly proposed truss demonstrated excellent structural behavior, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective and high-performance solution for space truss applications. From these findings, it was concluded that 3D CFS trusses have significant potential for use in building construction. The intellectual merit of this work is endorsed by the University of North Texas, which opened the patent application in partnership with the inventors.