Feasibility research on the application of self-piercing riveted connection in cold-formed steel structures

This paper presents an investigation of the feasibility of self-piercing rivet (SPR) technology for use in cold-formed steel (CFS) structures. The mechanical properties of the joints, floor trusses and prefabricated CFS composite floor modules connected by SPR and self-drilling screws (SDSs) were compared. The failure mode, bearing capacity, stiffness, ductility, ultimate deformation and other performance of CFS specimens connected with SDS and SPR were analyzed. Considering the construction method of CFS structure and the particularity of SPR connection technology, the construction feasibility of SPR connection was analyzed. The results showed that under the same condition, the stiffness and ductility of the SPR joint specimens are significantly better than those of the SDS joint specimens, the bearing capacity of the two are similar, and the ultimate mid-span deflection of the composite floor with SPR specimens is significantly greater than that with SDS specimens. It is highly feasible to use the SPR connection instead of the SDS connection for prefabricated light steel floor system with high stiffness requirements