Computer simulation of the ultimate behaviour of purlin-roof sheeting systems

Purlin-sheeting systems used for roofs and walls commonly take the form of cold- formed channel or zed section purlins, screw-connected to corrugated sheeting. This paper presents a nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element model, capable of simulating the ultimate behaviour of purlin-sheeting systems. The model incorporates both the sheeting and the purlin, and is able to account for cross-sectional distortion of the purlin, the flexural and membrane restraining effects of the sheeting, and failure of the purlin by local buckling or yielding. The validity of the model is shown by their good correlation with experimental results.