Analytical Model for Seismic Assessment of Nonstructural Partition Walls With Returns

Abstract eng:
This paper presents an experimentally verified methodology to analytically model the in-plane and out-of-plane seismic behavior of steel-framed gypsum nonstructural partition walls with returns. In this methodology, the steel-framing members are simulated by nonlinear beam elements. The in-plane and out-of-plane nonlinear behaviors of the connections are represented by nonlinear load-deformation springs, which have been calibrated using the component-level experimental data. The gypsum boards are simulated using linear four-node shell elements. The proposed methodology is employed to generate analytical models of three configurations of experiments at the University of Buffalo as well as the analytical model of a C-shaped wall system, tested at the University of Nevada, Reno. Comparison of analytical and experimental results shows that the analytical model accurately captures the force-displacement response, the out-of-plane dynamic characteristics, and the out-of-plane responses of nonstructural partition walls. In addition, the model can predict the possible damage mechanisms in partition walls. The procedure proposed in this paper can be adopted in future studies by researchers and also engineers to assess force-displacement responses and damage mechanisms of wall configurations for which experimental results are not available.

• Export as: BibTeX | MARC | MARCXML | DC | EndNote | NLM | RefWorks
• Add to your basket