Numerical model for the in-plane seismic capacity evaluation of tall plasterboard internal partitions

A finite element model capable to capture the interstory drift which causes the failure of a 5 m high plasterboard partition with steel studs is defined by employing the Direct Strength Method (DSM) to assess the occurrence of different buckling failure modes. The model is validated comparing the numerical behavior with the experimental evidence of a quasi-static test campaign on a plasterboard partition. It is concluded that the model well catches the interstory drifts which cause either the local or the global buckling in the partition. This conclusion is also confirmed by the strain trend in the steel studs.