TESTING CRITERIA AND STANDARDS FOR COLD-FORMED STEEL CONNECTIONS

CONTINUING EDUCATION - 1 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOUR

OUTLINE

Sometimes the hardest part of the design is the connection. Manufacturers can make this process easier for design professionals by providing allowable loads based on testing.

 The commonly approved criteria and standards are:

• ES-AC261, Acceptance Criteria Connectors Used with Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members
• AISI S905, Test Standard for Determining the Strength and Deformation Characteristics of Cold-Formed Steel Connections
• AISI S913, Test Standard for Determining the Strength and Deformation Behavior of Hold-Downs Attached to Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing
• AISI S914, Test Standard for Determining the Strength and Deformation Behavior of Joist Connectors Attached to Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing
• AISI S915, Test Standard for Determining the Strength and Deformation Behavior of Through-the-Web Punchout Cold-Formed Steel Wall Stud Bridging Connectors, 2015 Edition.

This presentation will focus on ES-AC261 test procedures and qualification requirements for steel connectors, including bypass clip connectors used with cold-formed steel structural members. It will also examine code requirements, testing evaluation and failure modes observed in full-scale testing, as well as component testing. Many of the challenging questions received regarding complex testing, anchorage testing and evaluation of loading on connections will be discussed.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Clifton Melcher, P.E., S.E.
Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.

Clifton Melcher, P.E., S.E. is senior product manager for Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., where he is responsible for managing the development and promotion of cold-formed steel products and related software. Prior to joining Simpson Strong-Tie, Clifton was the engineering branch manager for a large cold-formed steel manufacturer. He is a registered civil and structural engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the cold-formed steel industry. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Iowa State University.

Hien Nguyen, M.S., P.E.
Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.

Hien Nguyen, M.S., P.E. is a senior research and development engineer for Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., based in Pleasanton, California. A new product development specialist, Hien has more than 20 years of experience in structural connector design for wood and cold-formed steel. She recently led the effort to add curtain wall clip provisions to ICC-ES AC261 - Acceptance Criteria for Connectors Used with Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, approved in February 2019. She was a contributor toward the development of several AISI test standards and for CFSEI’s publication “Cold-Formed Steel Framed Wood Panel or Steel Sheet Sheathed Shear Wall Assemblies.” She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis and a master’s degree from San Jose State University. She is a registered civil engineer in California.