Volex Labs / Calculations / Cold-formed steel design to Eurocode 3.

Cold-formed steel design to Eurocode 3.

Enter the cold-formed C or Z section and span, and Volex Anvil computes the effective section properties (allowing for local and distortional buckling of the thin plate elements), the cross-section moment resistance Mc,Rd to EC3-1-3 §6.1.4, and the lateral-torsional buckling resistance Mb,Rd for the unrestrained length.

The result matches the manufacturer load-span tables (Tata, Albion) for purlins and rails, with the effective properties and both resistances shown for checking.

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What Volex Anvil checks

Validated against the published example

Cold-formed C-section purlin — section and LTB resistance EC3-1-3 §6.1.4 (Mc,Rd) and §6.2.4 (LTB); Tata / Albion handbook
QuantityPublishedVolex AnvilError
Section resistance Mc,Rd7.14 kNm7.14 kNm0.00%
LTB resistance Mb,Rd2.27 kNm2.27 kNm0.00%
This case is one of 359 published checks the platform passes — the full table, with every source and every error, is public at volexlabs.com/verification.

Frequently asked

C and Z sections?
Yes — both C (channel) and Z purlin/rail sections are supported, with the effective properties computed for the thin cold-formed geometry.
Does it allow for local buckling?
Yes — the effective-width method of EC3-1-3 §5.5 accounts for local and distortional buckling of the flanges, web and lips.
What is it validated against?
The cross-section and LTB moment resistances are checked against EC3-1-3 and the Tata/Albion technical handbooks — both within 0.00%.
Free tier?
Yes — 10 calculations a month free with clause references; Pro (£29/month) adds unlimited runs and PDF calc sheets.

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