Macro-Modelling Approach for the In-Plane Cyclic Response of Cold-Formed Steel Partition Walls

Abstract

Past earthquakes demonstrate that non-structural elements could be vulnerable to a relatively low intensity ground shaking which induces negligible structural damage. The study aims to improve previously developed macro-models of cold-formed steel (CFS) partition walls to properly capture their in-plane cyclic response and damage states of important components in a CFS partition wall under imposed excitation. An effective analytical modelling approach is adopted for a simple modelling procedure and less computational effort. The proposed analysis model of partition walls consisting of several lumped spring elements is verified using direct comparison with two full scale CFS partition wall tests. The analytical and experimental results are compared in terms of force–displacement relations, dissipated energy, and an influential damage mechanism of components consisting of partition walls. The comparison shows that the analytical model well captures the experimental response such as the overall strength and stiffness degradation and pinching behavior. Moreover, the damage mechanism predicted by the analytical model is in good agreement with that observed during the tests.

Development of the simplified spring‐based nonlinear models for full‐connection cold‐formed steel‐framed gypsum partition walls

“…Recent studies clarified that the aspect ratio of the partitioning walls highly affects the load-bearing capacity and the energy dissipation of these components. [20] Previous researchers [14,19] developed the detailed finite element models only for discrete aspect ratio levels of the walls. This problem results in having the dynamic properties of the walls with limited aspect ratio levels.…”

“…Macillo et al [18] developed a spring-based model to calibrate the seismic behavior of cold-formed steel strap braced stud walls. Shin and Kim [19] presented an analytical modeling procedure for cold-formed steel partition walls in which the cyclic behavior of different components was simulated by lumped spring elements. Salmasi et al [20] proposed a practical approach for the derivation of analytical fragility curves of partition walls.…”

In‐Plane damage of partition walls with various boundaries during earthquakes

“…The previous research on the partition walls discusses the details of the damage patterns observed in quasi-static tests [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and shaking table tests. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Many reports discussed the damage variations with construction details, 6,7,12,14,20,21 and the damage mainly occurred in the corners, edges, and screw connections of panels.…”

“…Moreover, several past studies have proposed damage mechanism models based on the local damage phenomena of partition walls such as models for the explanation of panel separation from the stud by panel rotation, 17 the failure of welding and panel fixation by out-of-plane rotation, 12 and the connection damages between panels and studs. 11,23 However, a damage mechanism that explicitly accounts for the boundary flexibility has not been presented yet.…”

“…Regarding partition walls, the displacement or story drift ratio is the primary demand, and the mechanical performance factors such as stiffness, hysteretic damping, strength, and stress are the example characteristics. Moreover, several past studies have proposed damage mechanism models based on the local damage phenomena of partition walls such as models for the explanation of panel separation from the stud by panel rotation, 17 the failure of welding and panel fixation by out‐of‐plane rotation, 12 and the connection damages between panels and studs 11,23 . However, a damage mechanism that explicitly accounts for the boundary flexibility has not been presented yet.…”