ENHANCED STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE OF CFS TRUSS END-CONNECTIONS USING POWDER-ACTUATED FASTENERS

Abstract

Cold-formed steel (CFS) truss systems are widely used due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and efficiency in modular construction. However, the overall structural performance of these systems is often governed by the capacity and complex behavior of their end-connections, particularly under extreme or accidental loading conditions where energy dissipation is critical. This paper experimentally investigates the structural performance of CFS truss end-connections using powder-actuated fasteners (PAFs) as an alternative to bolted end-connections presented in a prior study. A comprehensive experimental program consisting of twenty-four tests, with at least two trials per configuration, was conducted under quasi-static vertical (tension) and horizontal (shear) loadings, using both symmetric and non-symmetric test setups. Load–displacement responses and failure modes are reported. The summarized results include initial stiffness, ultimate loads, and toughness at failure. Results indicate that using PAFs for CFS truss end-connections increases energy absorption and load-carrying capacity. Compared with previously published bolted configurations, PAF connections provide 12% and 40% higher capacities in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, and increase toughness by 184% and 12% on average in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively.