Computational Modelling of Cold-Formed Steel Shear Wall Panels

This monograph presents the experimental studies and computational modelling of Cold-Formed Steel Shear Wall panels (CFSSWP) under in-plane shear loading. The CFSSWP is the main lateral load resisting element in CFS housing system under earthquake type loading. The nonlinear behaviour of CFSSWP is dictated by the screw connections between the CFS members and the sheathing. This monograph presents the experimental studies on wall panels and its screw connection sub assemblage under monotonic and reversed cyclic loading. To develop the Finite element model of CFSSWP based on screw behaviour, a new Variably Oriented Screw Pair Element (VOSPE) is proposed. Experimentally observed deteriorating behaviour of the screw connections in the CFSSWP, were modelled with Smooth Differential Bouc-Wen-Baber-Noori model. The proposed FE modelling strategy is capable of modelling the nonlinear behaviour observed in the experimental results of the CFSSWP tested under monotonic and quasi-static reversed cyclic loading. The monograph focuses on the work carried by the first author at Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India as part of his doctoral study.