Generation of numerical-based capacity fragility curves for different aspect ratios of full-connection gypsum partition walls

Fragility curves for steel-framed partition walls in current guidelines (such as FEMA P-58) are mainly based on experimental studies with limited number of geometries. In light of extensive efforts made in the past decade on numerical simulation of these walls, combined experimental-numerical fragility curves can facilitate more reliable results. A previously validated modeling approach along with verified numerical-based fragility development methodology utilized to derive fragility curve for walls with aspects ratios ranging from 0.33 to 3 using OpenSees platform. Moreover, variation of maximum and median wall strengths as well as median fragility values were compared against different wall aspect ratios. Results of this article indicated that the maximum unit-length strength of full-connection partition walls fluctuates between 3.5 and 4.9 kN (0.25-0.34 kips). Also, vulnerability of partition walls increases when aspect ratio of walls decreases.