Investigation of CFS shear walls with one and two-sided steel sheeting

In this study six Cold-Formed Steel shear wall (CFS) with one and two side steel sheeting are tested under reversed cyclic loading. Besides, thirteen numerical models are simulated, using nonlinear finite element method, and analyzed under monotonic pushover loading. The studied parameters are the comparison of one and two side steel sheeting, the nominal thickness of steel sheet and boundary elements, and height to width aspect ratios of the wall. The performance of tested specimens is investigated in terms of lateral load-story drift response, failure modes and ultimate strength of shear walls. Based on AISI S213 the available strength of two-sided steel-sheathed walls is cumulative but the results of the experimental study show that the capacity of two-sided steel-sheathed walls is more than twice of one side steel sheathed if the boundary elements are strong enough to sustain imposed forces. Overall, the performance of CFS shear walls is highly depending on the ratio of boundary element thickness to steel sheet thickness. According to numerical models, there is a linear relationship between the nominal sheet thickness and the ratio of ultimate strength to nominal frame thickness.