Performance of Steel Stud Walls Subjected to Blast Loads

Abstract

Abstract : Past research has demonstrated that steel stud walls can perform well when subjected to large blast events. The construction methods needed to achieve good performance that take advantage of the inherent ductility offered by steel, however, have been costly and have often required the use of specialized connection details that allow a stud to reach its full flexural and/or tensile capacities prior to connection failure. The goal of the current study is to develop techniques for mitigating large blast loads acting against steel stud walls using conventional construction materials and techniques. Two issues of concern for the current research are: 1) the performance under blast loads of typical connections, either commercial clips or the standard screwed-stud-to-track, has yet to be fully examined, and 2) current methods of design do not incorporate the mechanical interaction of veneer layers for potentially increasing the blast resistance of steel stud walls. To better understand the role played by connection design details and wall system construction details, research for this project includes laboratory testing, field testing, and computational modeling. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the research program and a summary of the findings that have been developed to date. From the data collected during this project, designs that exhibit a balance of simplistic, economic, and adequate protection will be developed.