ABSTRACT
The flexural tests were carried out on 2,743 mm (9′) long specimens, which were simply supported at their ends, and were subjected to two equal point loads acting at equal distances from the supports. Table 1 summarizes the test results, which includes the moment resistances of the CFS sections with and without the reinforcements. The reduction in the flexural strength of a CFS joist section due to a large web opening (up to 65% of web height) is less than 15%. All the specimens containing reinforcement Schemes A and B failed at locations other than the opening locations. The investigation considered a much simpler reinforcement scheme identified herein as Scheme C,
which consisted of two bridging channels, one along the top edge of the opening, and the other along the bottom edge of the opening. The circular and square openings with scheme “C” resisted 5% and 3% more moment, respectively, than the solid sections.
