Customary light-gauge steel framing construction with flat strap bracing. Seismicity limits for short to mid-rise buildings in Europe

Abstract

Ordinary (customary) light gauge steel framing is a convenient construction technology; however, given the studs low axial capacity, has been mainly considered for short buildings in low seismicity regions. This paper investigates the bounds of this type of steel framing (in moderate and high seismicity areas) by designing the structures of three representative 5, 7 and 10-story buildings in order to examine their feasibility. The necessity of using built-up columns consisting of two or more sections is observed. The axial capacity of studs is estimated by code-type analyses. The critical buckling stress is determined with well-known closed-form expressions; as they do not contemplate the flexibility of the screwed connections (in built-up sections), the obtained results are complemented with those of Finite Strip Method and Generalized Beam Theory formulations.