Novel CFS truss with stamped diagonal system

• A new technology for manufacturing the truss diagonal was presented, allowing the elements to be produced continuously, which makes assembly fast and accurate. • The efficiency of this proposal was verified through experimental tests comparing typical geometries of cold-formed trusses with the new truss design, highlighting the influence of the connection eccentricities. • The experimental results demonstrated that the truss displacement and load capacity comply with the American Standard Specification and that the connection eccentricities influence structural stiffness and collapse resistance. • The finite element (FE) study revealed that the chord thickness directly affects the rigidity of the structure; however, the optimal value should be investigated considering the best load-to-self-weight ratio. This paper presents a novel technology for designing, manufacturing and assembling cold-formed 2D trusses. The concept is based on creating a connection where the axes of the webs are concentric (at the same point), thus not generating additional moments to the truss chord members and increasing the overall stability of the trusses. An original connection configuration was developed by stamping the flanges of the diagonal webs. This technology also allows the diagonal elements to be manufactured continuously, making assembly quick and precise. To verify the efficiency of this novel truss design, experimental tests and FE models were carried out, comparing five standard cold-formed trusses with the new truss. The experimental results showed that the new truss demonstrated higher strength and stiffness than the standard cold-formed steel trusses and could be a viable solution for floor and roof applications.