STATIC LOADING TESTS OF STEP PART IN STEEL FURRING SUSPENDED CEILING SYSTEM AND ESTIMATION OF REQUIRED DEFORMATION CAPACITY DURING EARTHQUAKES

Abstract

According to the new standard for specified ceiling, it is recommended to separate adjacent ceiling zones at step parts. In specified ceilings, conventional continuous step parts may not be damaged because of small deformations by bracings, but the requirements are not clear. In this report, static loading tests are conducted to clarify mechanical properties of step parts of steel furring suspended ceiling systems. The required displacements are calculated by numerical analysis and compared with the experimental results. Integration of the step part can be allowable by properly selecting combination of the natural period of buildings and adjacent ceiling zones.