# Static Bearing Capacity Investigation of a Novel Prefabricated Light-Steel Beam-Column Connection
## 1 Introduction  
Light-steel structures have been frequently adopted for residential and farm buildings in China due to their many advantages, including faster construction, good strength-to-cost ratio, high strength-to-weight ratio, no wet operation required on site, and large space available. Connections between different thin-walled members are crucial for a light-steel structure. Conventionally, connections using bolts, rivets, screws, and nails are preferred over welding for light-steel structures. This is because welding flaws, such as welding penetration, are frequently detected in construction sites, and the productivity of site welding is much lower. Many researchers have proposed different types of connections using bolts, rivets, screws, and nails for different light-steel structures and investigated the structural performance, including the load-bearing capacity, failure mode, etc. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [1] proposed a theoretical model for predicting the stiffness of cold-formed steel (CFS) joints based on testing results of bolted lap connections and truss specimens. [PERSON] et al. [2] carried out experimental tests on thirteen CFS roof trusses consisting of C sections subjected to point loading at the joint. They also investigated strengthening methods to increase the bearing capacity of CFS roof trusses and recommended an optimal approach. [PERSON] et al. [3] first investigated the structural behaviorof a novel CFS beam consisting of two bolted C-channel sections with a curved flange, compared it to the conventional beams with a flat flange, and then investigated the structural behavior of the beam-column connections by carrying out finite element (FE) analyses. The column was composed of four C-channel sections with flat flange. It was concluded that the new CFS beam and the corresponding beam-column connection have a higher ductility compared to the traditional counterparts. Later, [PERSON] et al. [4] conducted experimental tests on six bolted CFS beam-column connections subjected to cyclic loading. The connection was composed of the same column and beam numerically investigated before. In addition, advanced FE analyses considering bolt slip were also carried out to calculate the moment-rotation curves of the beam-column connections. [PERSON] et al. [5] proposed a novel connector called the Howick Rivet Connector (HRC) for CFS trusses consisting of channel sections. They first tested a T-shaped lap-joint specimen and then a CFS truss to investigate strength and stiffness. They reported that the HRC connection behaved like the one using bolts. Later, [PERSON] et al. [6] tested another twenty-six specimens consisting of different channel sections assembled using HRC connectors. All specimens were tested to failure under four-point bending loading. The effect of several key parameters, such as the number of HRCs, on the structural behavior of the CFS trusses were examined. [PERSON] et al. [7] investigated the structural performance of a type of light-steel framing panel using screws subjected to lateral loading. First, they investigated the behavior of the screw connection and then the light-steel framing panels by carrying out both experimental tests and FE analyses. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [8] investigated the energy dissipation capacity and the bearing capacity of a type of CFS roof-truss end connection by carrying out both experimental tests and FE analyses. It was concluded that the screw arrangement pattern and the loading direction have a significant effect on the energy dissipation capacity of the roof-truss end connection. [PERSON] et al. [9] proposed a \"three spring\" theoretical model to calculate the moment-rotation curves of bolted CFS beam-column joints, with both the column and the beam consisting of back-to-back C-channel sections. [PERSON] et al. [10] carried out experimental tests on six CFS portal frame specimens. Monotonic loading was applied to three specimens, and the others were subjected to cyclic loading.