Response of Conventional Steel Stud Wall Systems under Static and Dynamic Pressure

This research effort focuses on the evaluation of existing design standards for cold-formed steel stud walls and the development of retrofit wall systems. Full-scale wall systems are tested under uniform static pressure using a vacuum chamber. The resistance functions obtained are used to model the dynamic behavior of the walls and to predict performance under blast conditions. This paper focuses on defining the static resistance of nonload-bearing steel stud walls with slip track connections and their performance under external explosions. Simple modifications to existing design practice have significantly improved the blast performance of the steel stud walls. Maximum blast resistance is achieved by using steel angles connected to the studs and anchored to the floor and ceiling. The static and dynamic performances of five full-scale steel stud wall systems are presented in this paper.