Cyclic Shear Behavior of Gypsum Board-to-Steel Stud Screw Connections in Nonstructural Walls

Gypsum steel-stud partition walls are composed of light-gauge, cold-formed steel studs, and gypsum boards attached with self-drilling screws. Previous experimental studies on the seismic performance of these walls have shown widespread failure of gypsum-to-stud connections (GSCs), initiated at very low amplitude excitation. The failure of GSCs resulted in loss of strength and stiffness of the partition walls. A series of component tests has been conducted at University of Nevada, Reno to evaluate the shear force and displacement capacities of GSCs. Fastener spacing (center to center and also center to edge), loading protocol (monotonic or cyclic), and stud thickness were varied between specimens. The test data were then used to develop fragility curves for shear capacities of GSCs in terms of displacements. Additionally, a series of nonlinear GSC hinge models were proposed and validated using component experimental data.