Cao Hung Pham

BE MConstMgt MEngSc (UNSW)

Postgraduate Research Student
Centre for Advanced Structural Engineering



School of Civil Engineering, Room 360
Phone: +61 2 9351 4393
Fax: +61 2 9351 3343
Email: C.Pham@civil.usyd.edu.au

Research project - Direct Strength Method (DSM) of design under combined actions

Supervisor: Prof Greg Hancock
Associate Supervisor: Prof Kim Rasmussen


The Direct Strength Method (DSM) of design of cold-formed section is a new method for designing complex thin-walled section as an alternative to the traditional the Effective Width Method. It uses elastic buckling solutions for the entire member cross section to give the direct strength rather than for elements in isolation. The first advantage of the DSM is that it allows direct computation of the capacity of cold-formed thin walled members of complex section shape (eg. with intermediate stiffeners). Secondly, the interaction between local and overall modes and distortional and overall modes is taken into account. The DSM uses numerical solutions for elastic buckling and requires computer software such as THIN-WALL or CUFSM to evaluate elastic buckling stresses. The method has recently been incorporated in the North American Specification and the Australian/New Zealand Standard.

The project will investigate the DSM for cases where combined action occurs particularly bending and shear.

Shear test

Buckling mode shape for bending and shear

Learning & Teaching

• CIVL2201 Structural Mechanics
• CIVL3206 Steel Structures 1
• CIVL3205 Concrete Structures