Inelastic performance of cold-formed steel strap braced walls

The inelastic performance of sixteen 2.44 m×2.44 m cold-formed steel strap braced walls was evaluated experimentally. The performance was affected by the holddown detail, which in many cases did not allow the test specimens to reach or maintain a yield capacity and severely diminished the overall system ductility. “Test-based” R_d×R_o values of 3.65, 2.11 and 1.72 indicate the low ductility levels, which were not adequate to warrant the use of a seismic response modification coefficient of R=4.0 in design. Capacity design of the SFRS elements must account for the overstrength of the strap material.