Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)This paper aims to analyze the strength and stiffness of semi-continuous cold-formed steel purlins subjected to flexure. A series of nine cold-formed steel Z sections with sleeved and overlapped bolted connections were tested in bending. Results show that strength is often limited by a plastic mechanism failure, which reduces the web rigidity and induces an early development of local buckling in the compressed flange. In addition to the experiments, this paper presents a numerical and analytical study of the strength and stiffness of semi-continuous purlins, as well as, an analytical method to predict vertical displacement. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1044453Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)