International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 08, August-2015

Design Analysis of Structures for Residential

Light Steel Framing Systems
Amarildo V. Moreira, JR. Amarildo V. Moreira, JR.
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education
Howard University Personnel – CAPES
Washington, DC, USA. Brazil Science Mobility Program
Brasilia, DF, Brazil.

Abstract — The light steel framing technology has The use of steel framing continues to grow year by year
progressively increased because of the fast progress in the and is a trend for the future.
building industry. It has a lot of advantages from the
technological point of view. The development of dry building
systems based on steel members have spread in the US,
II. ROLL FORMING PROCESS
Australia and Japan; and are now gaining market in European The Light Steel Frames (LSF) are made by a process
countries as well as in countries in development such as China called roll cold-forming in which a long strip of sheet steel is
and Brazil. These dry buildings address a new form of passed through a series of rollers to form the bends and create
construction in which steel members are designed to act with the desired shape. The frames are manufactured at room
“dry” materials, such as gypsum plasterboards. Although the temperatures, relatively considered low temperatures (cold
gypsum plasterboards have a structural function, they are not working) and the strength is achieved by a combination of
normally used for taking active loads. The structure itself is properties of the steel, such as thickness.
made of steel frames. The systems often have load-bearing walls,
and the floors may be of light weight steel profiles. They are
designed for industrial production and can contribute to a more
efficient building process.

Keywords— Light steel framing; Residential Construction

Systems; Shear walls; Gypsum plasterboards.
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2: Steel sheet in roll-forming process
Source: YouTube, “Roll forming”.
I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, one of the biggest dilemmas in Civil
Engineering construction especially in development countries
has been the amount of time spent for the buildings to be
constructed. This situation of slow process may be due to the
fact that most structures are built following in the traditional
use of concrete, which takes a long time to be completely
cured. The lack of understanding in different processes and
technologies does not allow builders to improve their
operation as far as time is concerned. However, the steel
framing technique has been shown as a practical, efficient
solution to many of the limitations that builders face using
other materials.
The Light Steel Framing is a technique with a "skeleton
frame" of vertical steel columns and horizontal I-beams, Fig. 3: Roll-forming process.
constructed in a rectangular grid to support the floors, roof and
walls of a building which are all attached to the frame. It is an
alternative to build quickly as well as have a cleaner The steel used in the light steel framing systems is zinc
construction environment and decrease wasted materials that galvanized because it needs to be protected from rusting,
impact directly in the final budget. According to the Builders which can lead to damage during storage or even loss of
Guide of Steel Frame Construction, from the Steel Frame strength during the construction phase.
Alliance, more than 40% commercial structures now are using
steel framing and with nearly 500 homes in the US built with In terms of thermal and acoustical approach, the elements
steel framing over the past decade. [5] of the frame are assembled in a way that the gaps in between
can be filled with mineral wool as an insulation substance for
heat and sound. Generally some minimum requirements

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 08, August-2015

regarding the thermal transmittance of external building

elements have to be met in LSF systems as well as
requirements for sound insulation, according to the standards
of each country (other products can also be utilized for
insulation but mineral wool is most widely used for its
benefits and efficiency in terms of fire protection).

III. EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL WALLS

Cold formed steel sections have been progressively used
as primary structural members, such as load-bearing walls, or
beams and columns. In the load-bearing walls, the connection
between the members in the floor and wall allows direct load Fig. 6: C-profile section
transfer. Generally, internal and external walls in light steel
framing systems provide resistance to vertical loads
transferred from the floors and roof, resistance to horizontal
loads (and stability of the whole building), and resistance to
out wind loads.

Fig. 4: Steel framed walls and its loads

These dry buildings address a new form of construction in

which steel members are designed to act with “dry” materials, Fig. 7: Different forms of light steel sections.
such gypsum plasterboards. Although the gypsum Source: [3]
plasterboards have a structural function, they are not normally
counted for taking active loads. They are designed for IV. STEEL FRAMING ASSEMBLY METHODS DESIGN
industrial production and can contribute to a more efficient The method of construction is one of the most essential
building process. The most common element sections of Light thing when it comes to Light Steel Framing design. Different
Steel Frame structural systems are C and U profiles. Usually, methods can impact in different ways the construction,
they are of 75 to 200 mm depth with a flange width of 40 to affecting the time of construction, the final cost and also the
75 mm. However, there are a huge variety of other sections quality of the building. In terms of assembly methods, the two
that can be produced of light steel. The cavity are normally main classifications are: stick framing and panelization.
filled with some material to improve specific performance.
A. Stick-Built Construction (Stick Framing)
“Stick framing” is basically the same in wood and steel.
This framing method has actually gone through a
transformation incorporating many of the techniques used in
panelized construction. It involves assembling the floors and
walls using individual studs and joists on the construction site.
The layout and assembly of steel framing is the same as for
lumber, except components are screwed together rather than
nailed. It requires extensive cutting of individual framing
members, and requires a fairly high level of skill of framers
who must know to assemble the elements within the house.

Fig. 5: Load-bearing wall components in LSF systems

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 08, August-2015

B. Panelization recyclable building materials; 3) usage of a building

Panelization is based on assembling elements of the technology with low energy need, etc.” [2]
building – such as walls, floors and roofs – in a controlled Steel components generate minimal waste and all light
manufacturing environment, and it has been progressively steel construction materials are completely recyclable,
used in residential construction today. It consists in pre- therefore a healthy environment is guaranteed. In addition,
fabrication of the construction components repeating the panel applying possible natural materials and technologies are
dimensions and types – that can be produced in industry or on absolutely harmless to people. For this reason, the light steel
site construction – and results in a process four times faster. framing system has a general advance for providing health
“A jig is developed for each type of panel. Steel studs and protection.
joists are ordered cut-to-length for most panel work, placed
into the jig and fastened either by screws or welding. The
exterior sheathing, or in some cases, the complete exterior VI. STABILIZATION SYSTEM WITH SHEAR WALLS
finish, is applied to the panel prior to erection”. [1] In structural engineering, a shear wall is a wall composed
of braced panels to counter the effects of lateral load acting
on structure. Wind and seismic loads are the most common
loads braced wall lines are designed to counteract. In other
words, shear wall is a wall specifically designed to support
horizontal loads and provides lateral resistance in the
building.
In Light Steel Framing systems, horizontal loads are
resisted by diagonal bracing. By resisting these horizontal
loads, the stabilization of the buildings is more likely to
happen. The shear walls are made of steel profiles or gypsum
plasterboards, although the gypsum plasterboards are not
accepted as a structural component and are not used for
stabilization in the United States.
Differently, a design method for single-layer gypsum
plasterboards was developed by Kallsner and Åkerlund and
officially recognized in the Swedish Building Regulations [6]
in 1975. It allowed a shear force of 0,1 kN for a 1.7 mm nail
in a 13 mm gypsum board. Since the minimum space of the
nails was 100 mm limiting the shear flow to 1 kN/m, this is
small load was considered an important decision. Although
some people may seem uncomfortable with gypsum
plasterboards used for structural purposes, recent researches
have been shown that they can be used with shear walls to
stabilize building systems. [4]
VII. THERMAL AND ACOUSTIC APPROACH
Fig. 8 and Fig. 9: Pre-fabrication of panels and components
Source: Google In terms of thermal and acoustical approach, the elements
of the frame are assembled in a way that the gaps in between
This method is well accepted and used for providing an can be filled with mineral wool as an insulation substance for
efficient building process even in bad weather conditions. heat and sound (other components can also be utilized for
Steel framing suits well for panelization because it is insulation but mineral wool is most widely used for its
manufactured with precision to meet exact sizes, and its light benefits and efficiency in terms of fire protection).
weight allows for easier handling of assembled components. Minimum requirements regarding the thermal
transmittance of external building elements have to be met in
V. SUSTAINABLE APPROACH AND ENVIRONMENTAL LSF systems as well as requirements for sound insulation,
BENEFITS according to the standards of each country.
As the worldwide production and consumption increases,
the use of resources like energy increases as well. There is a A. Separating Walls
need to develop new ways of construction that cause less The light steel framing system relies on the degree of
impact to the natural environment and reduce the use of basic structural isolation that is achieved between the several layers
materials. of the construction to achieve good acoustic performance. In
“In the ecological architecture the most important issue is separating walls, double skin construction is used with
the enforcement of the viewpoints of environment protection minimal structural connection between them. A range of wall
and public health protection. During the building, the construction with their respective acoustic insulation and fire
environment protection is reachable by reducing significantly resistance is represented in Table 1. [3]
the energy consumption by: 1) application of building
materials with low embodied energy; 2) employment of

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 08, August-2015

[3]

Table 1: Sound insulation and fire resistance light steel wall

constructions. Table 2: Sound insulation and fire resistance of light steel floors

B. Separating Floors C. Thermal Bridges

For separating floors, airborne and impact sound Thermal bridges of various degrees can be formed by load-
transmission must be taken into consideration. The same bearing members in an insulated structure. It can lead to
process used for walls should be also applied for lightweight additional heat losses and lower surface temperatures on the
floors, achieving high levels of acoustic insulation. It is room side, which can be disadvantageous for the system.
recommended to separate the top surface of a resilient layer Therefore, it is recommended that thermal bridges must be
between the top floor finish and the structure below, and by reduced in the light steel framing system. The effect of
resilient bars used to isolate the dry lining ceiling finish. A thermal bridges can be reduced by three methods: 1) using
series of typical floor constructions is presented in Table 2. double frame systems; 2) using exterior insulation systems; 3)
using perforated the steel profiles, thermo-profiles.
Also, it is relevant to mention that in light steel framed
buildings, the connection details of prefabricated external
wall elements, the connection between walls and floors
(ground plate/basement and roof), as well as the details of
windows connection and steel sections penetrating though the
heat insulated building are all important and have to be
closely monitored. [3]

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 08, August-2015

ACKNOWLEDGMENT REFERENCES

Firstly, the author thanks the Coordination for the [1] S. Shi, J. Yu, “Development of Chinese Light Steel Construction
Residential Building”, Journal of Sustainable Development, November
Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – CAPES Brazil 2009. Vol. 2, No. 3 : pp. 134-138.
and the Brazilian Science Mobility Program for the full [2] A. Dudás, “Light Steel Structures in Residential House Construction”.
sponsorship. Secondly, he appreciates the support from Periodica Polytechnica. Ser. CIV. ENG. VOL. 47, NO. 1, PP. 133–136
Northern Virginia Community College as well as Howard (2003).
University and their excellence. Thirdly, he recognizes the [3] J. Strömberg, M. Lawson, R. Kergen, A. Moutafidou, T. Mononen, B.
huge importance of his instructor and supervisor Dr. Robert Johansson, J. Nieminen, “Development of Dry Composite Construction
Systems Based on Steel in Residential Application” (2002).
Elangwe Efimba for this research article, highlighting his
[4] M. Veljkovic, B. Johansson, “Light Steel Framing for Residential
patience and trust. Buildings”. University of Technology. Thin-Walled Structures 44
(2006) pp: 1272 – 1279.
[5] A Builder’s Guide to Steel Frame Construction. Steel Framing Alliance
(2007).
[6] SBN 1975. Swedish Building Regulations. Statens Planverk, 1975.

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