SEISMIC DESIGN OF COLD FORMED STEEL STRUCTURE IN RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS

In this study, lateral load bearing capacities of cold formed steel framed wall panels are investigated. For this purpose lateral load bearing alternatives are analyzed numerically by computer models and results are compared with already done experimental studies and approved codes. The Overall seismic behaviour of cold formed structure depend on wall panels which are governed essentially by the performance of the structure connectors e.g. sheeting-to-sheeting connectors, and sheeting-to-framing connectors. In residential cold formed steel construction, walls are generally covered with cladding material like oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood on the exterior wall surface and these sheathed light gauge steel walls behave as shear walls with significant capacity. Oriented strand board is used in analytical models since OSB claddings are most commonly used in residential applications. The strength of shear walls depends on different parameters like screw spacing, strength of sheathing, size of fasteners used and aspect ratio. The yield strength of shear walls at which first screw connection reaches its shear capacity is calculated and load carrying capacity per meter length is found. The nonlinear analysis is also done by modeling the screw connections between OSB and frame as non-linear link and the nominal shear capacities of walls are calculated for different screw spacing combinations. The results are consistent with the values in shear wall design Guide and International Building Code 2003. In the few last decades, technical advance have been made seismic resisting cold frame steel building, the development of design procedure to allow for the design of wall carrying horizontal and vertical loads.