Behaviour of Screw Fasteners in Cold‐Formed Steel Stud‐to‐Sheathing Connections

Abstract This study examines the shear performance of screw connections between plywood sheathing to cold‐formed steel (CFS) studs using different screw head types, sheathing thicknesses, and stud thicknesses under cyclic loading. The primary objective was to assess the cyclic behaviour of these connections and determine the influence of various parameters on their performance. Experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the connections shear capacity, focusing on the role of screw head types and the use of washers in enhancing load resistance. The results revealed that screw shear capacity and the presence of washers significantly influenced the load‐bearing performance of the connections under shear loading. The common failure modes were observed during testing, including screw tilting, bearing, pull‐through, and screw shear. Also, these failure modes were analysed in detail to assess the parametric influences on connection performance. The study found that thicker sheathing and studs generally improved the shear capacity, while variations in screw head types and the use of washers played critical roles in altering failure mechanisms and overall connection behaviour. The findings provide valuable insights into optimizing screw connections for enhanced shear performance in CFS construction, highlighting the importance of screw selection and the strategic use of washers to prevent common failure modes.