Experimental study on seismic behaviors of CFS partition walls with varied construction practices using shake table tests

The seismic behavior of nonstructural components is largely governed by the dynamic response of the structures housing them which are dependent on the design-level earthquakes considered. However, most existing studies related to cold-formed steel (CFS) partition walls have focused on the components installed in high-seismicity regions, and there is limited research on their seismic performance installed in low-seismicity regions and effects of their site-specific installation details on the damage progression. To address this issue, this study investigates the seismic performance of CFS partition walls with varied construction practices using shake table tests. Two series of tests were conducted on full-height and partial-height CFS partition walls constructed to reflect common Korean practices and those built to follow seismic design specifications. Considering primary variables such as wall height, geometry, and construction details, experimental works were carried out to quantitatively evaluate seismic responses of CFS partition walls and their seismic fragilities according to the damage states. The experimental results demonstrated that non-seismic detailed partition walls exhibited damage initiation at lower seismic intensities, with partial-height walls being particularly vulnerable to out-of-plane deformations and collapse. In contrast, seismic detailed partition walls presented delayed damage initiation and maintained structural integrity even under higher seismic excitations. The experimental observations highlight the significant influence of construction practices on the seismic behaviors of CFS partition walls and the necessity of applying the seismic details such as proper anchorage and bracing, especially, for partial-height partition walls, to ensure safety and functionality during seismic events.