Design tool for gypsum-sheathed cold formed steel panels under seismic action

Limiting damages to nonstructural elements represents a relevant challenge for earthquake engineering. This explains why the interest for lightweight, low-damage solutions for both internal partitions and cladding is continuously increasing. In this context, wall panels made of gypsum-sheathed cold formed steel studs have become very popular in recent years, because of their ease of adaptability to various categories of building use. However, the response of these panels to both static and seismic loads still presents not completely clear features. In particular, the elastic buckling of studs under distributed vertical loads and role of sheathing-stud connections deserve to be investigated. In order to provide engineers with a comprehensive design procedure, a new calculation tool has been developed. The effects due to horizontal imposed loads and wind pressure, as well as to floor spectral acceleration are considered. All possible failure mechanisms, including stud local and distortional buckling, compression and bearing failure of gypsum sheathing, and flexural-torsional failure of top and bottom steel channels are accounted for. Stiffness and strength of the sheathing-stud and (top or bottom) channel-stud connection systems were derived from experimental tests. Some case studies are used to show the software capabilities.