Behavior of Screw Connections in Residential Construction

Self-drilling screws are the primary means of fastening cold-formed steel members in residential construction. Because the fabrication of connections is the most labor intensive aspect of the construction process, a better understanding of the behavior of screw connections could lead to more optimum connection design. Therefore studies have been performed at the University of Missouri-Rolla aimed at developing a better understanding of the behavior of single-shear connections using self-drilling screws in cold-formed steel construction. The study’s focus was on design parameters typically employed in residential construction. Fastener patterns, screw spacing, stripped screws, and the number of screws in a connection was varied to determine their influence on connection strength. A design equation was established.