Review of Cold‐Formed Steel Z‐Section Beams: Design Approaches and Performance Analysis

The review of cold‐formed steel (CFS) Z‐section beams focuses on various design approaches, including analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. It also analyzes their performance under different loading conditions, highlighting their efficiency in structural applications. CFS Z‐section beams are widely used in construction for their high strength‐to‐weight ratio. The analysis covers the structural properties, applications, and advancements in both lipped and unlipped Z‐sections, focusing on recent research findings. The review highlights the importance of optimizing design techniques to improve the accuracy of predictions related to web crippling capacity, bending, and torsional strength. Theoretical and experimental investigations, including FEA, are discussed to assess the reliability of existing design codes like the direct strength method (DSM). The study reveals that while DSM offers a solid foundation, it requires further refinement to address limitations, particularly in high‐strength steel applications. Overall, this review emphasizes how crucial it is to carry out more research on the behavior and functionality of CFS Z‐section beams to guarantee their safe and efficient usage in building applications. Consequently, the findings from this review are analyzed alongside existing methodologies, showcasing areas where the proposed approaches can improve performance and enhance predictive accuracy in design and application.