CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/792,493, filed Apr. 17, 2006, which application is specifically incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to structural light gauge steel assemblies such as used in building construction.
2. Description of Related Art
Structural steel shapes formed from light gauge (e.g., approximately 10-30 gauge) sheet steel are known in the art of building construction. For example, interior non-structural walls are commonly constructed using light gauge structural shapes to which gypsum wall board or other covering materials are fastened using nail pins or screws. Less commonly, buildings incorporate load-bearing structural walls constructed primarily of light gauge structural steel shapes as structural members. Such assemblies provide superior strength, durability, and value for selected installations. In load-bearing assemblies of this type, wall elements are generally fastened to each other using threaded screws or rivets.
Notwithstanding their advantages, structural wall assemblies using light gauge structural steel shapes are subject to certain disadvantages. In some assemblies, reliance on threaded fasteners or rivets leads to longer assembly times. It is desirable to provide a structural steel assembly that maintains the advantages of prior-art assemblies, but that can be assembled more quickly.
SUMMARY The present invention provides a method for constructing load-bearing structures constructed primarily of light gauge structural steel shapes as structural members. Certain structural steel shapes are joined using by driving specially adapted nail pins through abutting webs of adjacent shapes. The pins essentially replace prior-art threaded or riveted fasteners in the assembly, and can be installed much more quickly than these traditional fasteners. Hence, the entire assembly may be constructed more quickly, without sacrificing its strength or structural integrity.
A more complete understanding of the structural steel assembly, and method of making it, will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1-45 are scaled side, front and plan views of exemplary nail pin and light structural steel assemblies.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION A lightweight structural steel frame assembly uses special nail pins as structural fasteners between structural frame members, such as studs, joists, channels and tracks. The structural frame assembly may be substantially free of screws, rivets or other prior art fasteners known for making structural connections between light gauge steel structural members. Structural steel in the range of about 10 to 30 gauge is used for the light gauge structural steel members, or more preferably, in the range of about 14 to 25 gauge. The nails pins are made of a high-strength, ductile steel formed with a ballistic tip for piercing the steel and may include a knurled shank.
A 0.100 inch diameter gripshank Versapin™ nail pin manufactured by Aerosmith Fastening Systems of Indianapolis, Ind. may be used to fasten light-gauge structural steel members. The nails may be loaded into a suitable nail gun and nailed into opposing parallel sheets of structural members. The nail should have a ballistic tip, so that when the nail is shot out of the gun, the tip uniformly pierces the adjacent parallel sheets. Nail patterns should be arranged so that the primary load on each nail pin is a shear load.
Exemplary configurations of nails and lightweight gauge steel structural members are shown in FIGS. 1-45. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary stud-to-stud or joist-to-joist connection using nail pins. Table 1 below shows details of different structural members fastened according to FIGS. 2-43. A safe working load, maximum applied load, assumptions, and other details are shown or described for each configuration depicted in the figures. TABLE 1
Reference Detail Smith-Emery
Number Number Test Number Attachment Description
1 14A 49-53 20g RC -to- 14g Stud
2 14B 94-98 16g FS -to- 14g Stud
3 14C 64-68 14g Track -to- 14g Stud
4 14D 64-68 14g Rim Track -to- 14g Stud
5 14E 94-98 16g Rim Track -to- 14g Stud
6 14F 94-98 14g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 14g Stud
7 14G 94-98 16g Rim Track -to- 16 FS & 14g Stud
8 14H.1 64-88 14g Stud -to- 14q Stud At Shearwall Joint
9 14H.2 64-88 14g Stud -to- 14g Stud T ical
10 14H.3 64-68 14g Joist -to- 14 Joist
11 141 29-33 25g RC -to- 14g Stud
12 16A 89-93 20g RC -to- 16g Stud
13 168 84-88 lOg FS -to- 169 Stud
14 ISC 84-88 16 Track -to- lOg Stud
15 16D 94-98 14g Rim Track -to- lOg Stud
16 16E 84-88 lOg Rim Track -to- lOg Stud
17 IGF 84-88 14g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & lOg Stud
18 16G 84-88 lOg Rim Track -to- lOg FS & lOg Stud
19 16H.1 84-88 16g Stud -to- lOg Stud At Shearwall Joint
20 1OH.2 84-88 16g Stud -to- 16 Stud I pical
21 16H.3 84-88 16g Joist -to- lOg Joist
22 161 34-38 25g RC -to- 16g Stud
23 18A 1-5 20g RC -to- 18g Stud
24 188 11-15 16gFS -to- 18gStud
25 18C 21-23 18g Track -to- 18g Stud
26 18D 24-28 14g Rim. Track -to- 1 Bg Stud
27 18E 11-15 lOg Rim Track -to- 18g Stud
28 1SF 11-15 14g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 18g Stud
29 18G 11-15 lOg Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 18g Stud
30 18H.1 21-23 18g Stud -to- 18 Stud At Shearwall Joint
31 18H.2 21-23 18g Joist -to- 18 Joist T ical
32 18H.2 21-23 18g Stud -to- 18g Stud
33 181 16-20 25g RC -to- 18g Stud
34 20A 69-73 20g RC -to- 20g Stud
35 208 89-93 16 FS -to- 20g Stud
36 2CC 69-73 20g Track -to- 20g Stud
37 200 49-53 14g Rim Track -to- 20g Stud
38 20E 89-93 lOg Rim Track -to- 20g Stud
39 20F 89-93 14g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 20g Stud
40 20G 89-93 16g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 20g Stud
41 20N.1 69-73 20g Stud -to- 20g Stud At Shearwafl Joint
42 20H.2 69-73 20g Joist -to- 20g Joist
43 20H.2 69-73 20g Stud -to- 20g Stud Typical
44 201 6-10 25g RC -to- 20g Stud
FIG. 2 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 inch diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail positioned at 20 inches on-center spacing. The fastening means is free of threaded fasteners, rivets, adhesive, or welds, as is true for all fastening assemblies shown in FIGS. 1-43.
FIG. 3 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 4 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge track to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 5 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 6 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 7 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and a 16 gauge flat stock to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 8 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 9 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge stud to a 14 gauge stud at a shearwall joint using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 10 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge stud to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 11 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge joist to a 14 gauge joist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 6 inches on center.
FIG. 12 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 13 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 14 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 15 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 16 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 17 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 18 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 19 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 20 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge stud to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail at a shearwall joint.
FIG. 21 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge track to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 22 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge joist to a 16 gauge joist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 23 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 24 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 25 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 26 shows a means for fastening a 18 gauge track to a 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 27 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 28 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 29 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 30 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and a 16 gauge flat stock to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 31 shows a means for fastening an 18 gauge stud to an 18 gauge stud at a shearwall joint using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 32 shows a means for fastening an 18 gauge joist to an 18 gauge joist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 33 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 34 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 35 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 36 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge track to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 37 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 38 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 39 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 40 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gauge flat stock to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
FIG. 41 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge stud to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail at a shearwall joint.
FIG. 42 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge joist/stud to a 20 gauge joist/stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nails in pairs spaced at 24 inches on center.
FIG. 43 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.
In a building frame, primary load on the nail pins should be in shear. To measure shear capacities of various configurations, light gauge steel coupons were fastened by a single 0.100 nail pin and tested in shear loading in conformance with AISI Standard CF-92-1, Test Methods For Mechanically Fastened Cold-Formed Steel Connections. Each sample was uniformly loaded to failure, defined as the peak load just before fastener fracture, fastener pull out, or fastener tear our from the base coupon material. Various combinations of 14, 16, 18, 20 and 25 gauge steel coupons were tested. Results are reported in the tables provided below. TABLE 1
Shear Capacities of a Single Nail Pin Fastener Installed Into Light Gage Steel
Quantity & Configuration
of Steel Base Material Average
Sample/ Coupons Connected by A Single Nail Pin2 Max. Load, Load, Failure Mode
Test No.1 14-GA 16-GA 18-GA 20-GA 25-GA Lbs. Lbs. Type3
1 1 1 637 668 A
2 1 1 672 A
3 1 1 677 A
4 1 1 644 A
5 1 1 709 A
6 1 1 353 356 A, C(25-GA)
7 1 1 377 A, C(25-GA)
8 1 1 294 A, C(25-GA)
9 1 1 380 A, C(25-GA)
10 1 1 378 A C(25-GA)
11 1 1 884 890 B
12 1 1 878 B
13 1 1 861 B
14 1 1 936 B
15 1 1 889 B
16 1 1 293 338 A, C(25-GA)
17 1 1 349 A, C(25-GA)
18 1 1 398 A, C(25-GA)
19 1 1 301 A, C(25-GA)
20 1 1 351 A, C(25-GA)
21 2 690 704 A
22 2 748 A
23 2 675 A
24 1 1 941 1026 B, C(18-GA)
25 1 1 934 B, C(18-GA)
26 1 1 1100 B, C(18-GA)
27 1 1 1125 B, C(18-GA)
28 1 1 1032 B, C(18-GA)
29 1 1 286 301 C(25-GA)
30 1 1 291 C(25-GA)
31 1 1 312 C(25-GA)
32 1 1 305 C(25-GA)
33 1 1 309 C(25-GA)
34 1 1 270 294 C(25-GA)
35 1 1 320 C(25-GA)
36 1 1 284 C(25-GA)
37 1 1 305 C(25-GA)
38 1 1 293 C(25-GA)
39 1 1 1 1265 1144 B
40 1 1 1 1234 B
41 1 1 1 920 B
42 1 1 1 1016 A
43 1 1 1 1283 B
44 2 1 974 903 A
45 2 1 878 A
46 2 1 967 A
47 2 1 884 A
48 2 1 811 A
49 1 1 892 907 B
50 1 1 984 A
51 1 1 877 B
52 1 1 955 B
53 1 1 829 B
54 2 1 991 1020 B
55 2 1 1162 B
56 2 1 1000 A
57 2 1 980 A
58 2 1 966 A
59 1 1 1 958 949 B
60 1 1 1 1060 B
61 1 1 1 971 B
62 1 1 1 813 B
63 1 1 1 945 B
64 2 1217 1218 B
65 2 1233 B
66 2 1129 B
67 2 1313 B
68 2 1199 B
69 2 514 518 A
70 2 520 A
71 2 530 A
72 2 533 A
73 2 491 A
74 1 2 902 1088 A
75 1 2 1335 B
76 1 2 1015 A
77 1 2 982 A
78 1 2 1208 A
79 2 1 1054 989 A
80 2 1 989 A
81 2 1 978 A
82 2 1 947 A
83 2 1 976 A
84 2 540 827 A
85 2 889 A
86 2 951 B
87 2 840 B
88 2 914 A
89 1 1 490 736 A, C(20-GA)
90 1 1 748 B
91 1 1 795 A
92 1 1 860 B, C(20-GA)
93 1 1 789 A, C(20-GA)
94 1 1 1171 1111 A
95 1 1 987 B
96 1 1 1147 B
97 1 1 1104 B
98 1 1 1144 B
99 3 961 1026 A
100 3 994 B
101 3 1049 B
102 3 1067 A
103 3 1058 B
104 3 1 868 868 A
105 1 3 148 148 A
106 1 1 2 675 675 A
1Notes: 1. Unless otherwise noted in the following, the majority of the nail pin fasteners were threaded. The fasteners in Test Nos 104 through 105 had smooth shanks. 2. The 25-GA base material coupons in Sample/Test Nos. 29 through 38 contained corrugations at mid-length. 3. Sample/Test Nos. 74 through 83 were all marked “HELI” when received. 4. All 16-GA coupons contained in Sample/Test Nos. 84 through 103 were stainless steel
2For examples containing a total of three or more base material coupons, the ends of the smallest and largest gage coupons were gripped nto the crosshead of the testing machine while the middle gage coupon(s) served as a ‘filler’ between the two gripped coupons. For similar samples previously described except with two or more of the same gage material, the others served as the ‘filler’.
3Typical Failure More Types: A = Pin fastener pull-out B = Pin fastener sheared C = Base material tear or fastener hole elongated
FIGS. 1-43 describe connections such as may readily be used to construct a building frame from lightweight gauge steel structural members using piercing nail pins and a minimal amount of threaded fasteners or rivets. Nearly all fastening to be completed in a building frame may be accomplished using the depicted means for fastening. Where safe working loads would be exceeded, other fastening methods or structural assemblies may be adapted as known in the art. Care should be taken to conform to the proscribed assemblies depicted in FIGS. 1-43 in constructing the structural frame.
Having thus described a preferred embodiment of nail pin assemblies in light gauge steel and a method for fastening lightweight gauge steel structural members together to construct a building frame. it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the within system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is defined by the following claims.
