Test and direct strength method on slotted perforated cold-formed steel channels subjected to eccentric compression

•Tests on the behaviors of slotted perforated cold-formed steel (CFS) channels subjected to eccentric compression.•A nonlinear elasto-plastic FE model was developed and validated against the experimental results.•The extensive FE analyses were carried out for predicting the eccentricity impact coefficient formulas.•The simplified DSM formulas of slotted perforated CFS channels subjected to eccentric compression were proposed, without the need to calculate the elastic buckling critical stress for slotted perforated CFS channels.