Experimental and numerical study on seismic performance of strap braced cold formed steel shear walls

Light steel structures have significantly increased in recent years. These buildings stand out due to their relatively lower weight compared to other structural elements, ease and speed of assembly, and design flexibility. Strap-braced panel elements are designed to resist the lateral loads of the system. In this study, experiments and numerical analyses of strap-braced panel elements in light steel structures were conducted. Within this scope, five different panel elements with various configurations were examined. Specimens with and without strap braces, those with braces on both sides, and samples with different aspect ratios were tested. Reversible cyclic loading was applied, and the results were presented through load-displacement curves. Based on these curves, the strength and stiffness values of the elements were calculated. Additionally, the failure modes of the specimens were analyzed, and the experimental results were compared with numerical analysis outcomes. Furthermore, an evaluation was made based on the behavior factor calculated from the experimental results. According to the findings, the panel with a 1:1 aspect ratio and strap braces on both sides exhibited superior strength compared to other elements. Based on these results, a simple and effective strengthening proposal is presented for light steel structures, which are initially constructed as temporary buildings but later become permanent in disaster situations.