Capacity Evaluation of Suspended Ceiling Components, Part 2: Analytical Studies

Abstract

The seismic performance of a ceiling system is difficult to analytically predict due to its heterogeneous and complex details. On the other hand, lack of experimentally based analytical models for ceiling components results in over-simplified analytical models. Therefore, this second of two companion papers minimizes the gap between the complexity of ceiling systems and the weakness of previous analytical works by increasing modeling capabilities. To do so, 32 component-level analytical models are generated based on monotonic and cyclic tests of the ceiling wires, ceiling panels, and grid connections. These models are developed to capture the axial behavior of ceiling wires, the interaction between ceiling panels and sprinkler heads, and the shear and bending behavior of grid connections in both local axes. This research promotes a pathway to conduct analytical simulations of ceiling systems in conjunction with the structures.