Finite element analysis of lateral response of lightweight foamed concrete-filled cold-formed steel walls

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to improve the lateral capacity of Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) frame walls filled with lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) and supported with straw boards by introducing structural foamed concrete and/or bracing.Design/methodology/approachFinite element models are developed and calibrated based on previous experimental work. Then, these models are extended to conduct a parametric study to quantify the effect of filling CFS walls and structural LFC and the effect of supporting CFS walls with bracing.FindingsResults of the study conclude that the finite element analysis can be used to simulate and analyze the lateral capacity of CFS walls effectively since the maximum deviation between calibrated and experimental results is 10%. The structural LFC usage in CFS walls improves the lateral capacity considerably by (25–75) % depending on the wall properties. Besides, the application of lateral bracing does not always have a positive effect on the lateral performance of these walls.Originality/valueAlthough CFS walls are preferred due to it is light in weight, low in cost, easy to install and recyclable, low seismic performance, buckling vulnerability, poor thermal insulation and sound insulation properties, low lateral stiffness, and low shear strength limit their use. This study proposes the use of structural foamed concrete and a different bracing method than what is available in the literature. This can overcome the drawbacks of the CFS walls alone which can permit the usage of such walls in mid-rise buildings and other applications.