Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
APPLIED SCIENCES, cilt.16, sa.6, ss.1-35, 2026 (SCI-Expanded)
Cold-formed thin-walled steel profiles are among the principal
load-carrying components of lightweight steel structures, and their
cross-sectional geometry plays a significant role in structural
performance. C-, M-, U-, and Z-profiles are widely preferred in
lightweight structural applications. This study presents a finite
element-based, performance-oriented comparison of C-, M-, U-, and
Z-section thin-walled steel profiles with comparable overall geometric
dimensions. Directional deformation and deflection were investigated
under different loading and boundary conditions. Modal analyses were
also carried out to examine the natural vibration characteristics of the
profiles. The results indicate that the C-section exhibited the lowest
directional deformation, demonstrating the highest stiffness among the
investigated profiles. In contrast, the Z-section exhibits greater
lateral stiffness due to its asymmetric cross-sectional geometry. The
findings demonstrate that cross-sectional geometry significantly
influences the bending stiffness, torsional sensitivity, and vibration
characteristics of thin-walled steel profiles. Overall, the results
present a comparative assessment of commonly used thin-walled steel
profiles and provide a numerical reference for selecting suitable
profile geometries in lightweight structural applications.