Performance evaluation of pre-fabricated footing using cold-formed steel of lipped C-channel section

Abstract

Conventional pad footing with temporary formwork using plywood or timber is not environmentally friendly and does not contribute to the strength of the foundation. This paper proposed the use of cold-formed lipped channel sections in pre-fabricated pad footings to increase the load capacity and speed up the construction time in addition to the reduction in timber used as the formwork, which leads to eco-friendly construction. An experimental investigation on the proposed pad footing was carried out in this study. Twelve specimens were made and tested with the axial compression force applied to the footing through the column stump to investigate the failure criterion of the footing due to cracks, overall deformation, and load-carrying capacity. All notable failures on the footing specimens were carefully observed and reported. The findings from the experimental investigations revealed a reasonable agreement with the theoretical models calculated based on CEN-EC2. The pre-fabricated composite pad footing demonstrated significant increment in strength as the footing was strengthened using steel sections, instead of steel bar, in comparison with that of conventional pad footing. The study revealed that the proposed pad footing system has the potential to be used as a structural component in mid-rise light-framed steel structures.