Seismic Performance of Modular Structures with Novel Steel Frame: Light Gauge Slotted Steel Stud Walls

Yong Zhu,Qixian Chen,Mingxu Shang,Chao Gong,Faqi Liu,Dongchu Sun

doi:10.1155/2022/6926657

Abstract

Modular structures are premanufactured off-site and assembled on-site, leading to reduced on-site works and construction periods and improved quality compared to conventional prefabricated steel structures and reinforced concrete structures. Meanwhile, steel frame-light gauge slotted steel stud (LGSS) walls have been considered to be assembled into the modules due to their excellent thermal- and sound-insulation properties. These structural components will also contribute to the resistance of the modular system when subjected to lateral loads/actions, especially seismic actions. A finite element model was developed to investigate the seismic performance of high-rise modular steel structures with LGSS shear walls. Then, parametric studies were conducted to investigate the influences of the layouts of the LGSS shear walls and structure heights on the lateral stiffness, the deformation modes, and the stress states of the modular steel structures. Observed from the results of a ten-storey modular steel structure infilled with LGSS shear walls, the maximum storey drift reduced by 50.1–79.50% compared to the corresponding pure steel frame structure under the selected high-intensity seismic waves. The results indicate that the studied modular steel structure with LGSS shear walls possesses good seismic resistance and could be a practical and economical choice for future modular constructions.

Highlights

Modular constructions have gained increasing interest from designers, researchers, and engineers in recent decades [1,2,3,4]
Based on the simplifications mentioned above, a FE model was developed using ABAQUS for multistorey modular steel structures with light gauge slotted steel stud (LGSS) walls to investigate their performance under seismic loading. e strainstress relationship model with the consideration of the strain hardening effect was used for the steel frames of the modules, the same as the material model used for simulating LGSS walls
Considering the efficiency of the FE simulation processes, all the structural members of the module frame were modelled using beam elements. e LGSS walls were modelled with the validated bar-spring model and the joints were assumed to be hinge ends. e other nonstructural components were ignored in the FE model as they commonly have little effect on the mechanical behaviour of the studied modular structures

Summary

Introduction

Modular constructions have gained increasing interest from designers, researchers, and engineers in recent decades [1,2,3,4]. Structures based on these three levels (i.e., single modular component and module level, the joint and connection level, and the assembled modular structural system level) Some of these studies [17, 29,30,31,32] indicate that the lateral stiffness can be improved by employing some novel prefabricated shear wall members. Based on the experimental study for joints between modules presented by Chen et al [5], as shown, FE models with the hinge end and fixed end assumptions were developed, in which the corner studs and the beams were modelled using beam elements and the tie bars (i.e., the equivalent components for bolts as aforementioned) were modelled using truss elements. Us, the hinge model was adopted in this study to simplify the joints between modules when analysing the performance of multistorey modular structures hereafter

FE Model Developed for the Modular Structures

Benchmark Model

Influences of Wall Layouts