Analytical Model to Capture the In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Seismic Behavior of Nonstructural Partition Walls with Returns

Abstract

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 representative models of corner connections are assembled accounting for stud configurations, stud-to-stud and gypsum-to-stud screw attachments, and gypsum-to-gypsum contacts. 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.