STRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF PSSDB WALL PANEL WITH SQUARE OPENING AND VARIED SCREW SPACING

Profiled steel sheet dry boards or PSSDB system is an alternative compositeconstruction system comprising of profiled steel sheet compositely connected todry boards by self-tapping self-driving screws. PSSDB system was used widely asflooring system in the lightweight construction of buildings and office space infactories. Due to its superiority in the installation techniques, PSSDB system wasexpanded in the application as load bearing wall panel system in buildings. ThePSSDB system is as an alternative construction technique on load bearing wallpanel that offers cost savings synonymously with the rapid progress of scienceand technology which leads to the shift from traditional utilization of constructionmaterials to newer construction techniques. A finite element analysis was carriedout to determine the effect of screw spacing on the PSSDB wall panel. Thespacing selected was between 100 mm to 500 mm, at an increment of 100 mm ineach different model. The wall panel measured 3000 mm by 3000 mm with a1200 mm square window opening, 78 mm thick and butt joints verticallypositioned in the dry boards. This paper looks into the system as load bearing wallpanels, analyzing it under axial compressive load using established Finite Elementtechnique. The deformation profile of the PSSDB wall panel system showed asingle curvature deformation profile, maximum lateral displacement at two-thirdswall panel height and critical sections at the upper corners of the square opening.The finite element analysis had provided good prediction of the structuralbehavior of the PSSDB wall panel system and it is concluded that the PW200model possesses the optimum arrangement of the fixing screws used.