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UBC Theses and Dissertations

Experimental investigation of the connection and system behavior of 3-panel BEHLEN Frameless panel under monotonic and cyclic loads Feng, Baoli

Abstract

Cold-formed steel corrugated panels have attracted increasing interest regarding seismic applications as lateral force-resisting systems. Engineered by BEHLEN Industries LP, BEHLEN Frameless systems represent a notable application of cold-formed steel, employing corrugated steel panels as their primary structural components. These systems offer a cost and energy efficient alternative to conventional low-rise, long-span steel structures. With limited data on their seismic resistance, a series of extensive experimental investigations was carried out at the University of British Columbia. Connection-level testing involved three common bolted connections employed in the BEHLEN Frameless systems: i) footing channel-to-foundation connection, ii) panel-to-column connection, and iii) panel-to-panel connection. A total of sixty specimens with different thicknesses of connected members, tightening torque applied, and material properties were tested in the connection testing program. A comprehensive evaluation of the bolted connections under monotonic and cyclic loadings on rigidity, ductility, force capacity, typical behavior, and failure mode was presented. Component-level testing involved two types of corrugated panels developed for the BEHLEN Frameless systems: i) CS45 corrugated panels and ii) CS75 corrugated panels. A total of eight three-panel specimens were tested under in-plane monotonic and cyclic loadings. A thorough investigation of the panel wall specimens was carried out by assessing the initial stiffness, the buckling load, the buckling drift ratios, the post-buckling stiffness, the buckling sequence and pattern, and the residual force capacity. Test results in the preceding phase were also reviewed and the effect of varying specimen thicknesses and aspect ratios was further examined. The findings from this thesis provided a robust foundation for building detailed finite element models for parametric study and analytical models for seismic performance assessment.

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