Rotational and Translational Stiffness Provided by Insulated Metal Panels to Girts and Purlins in Metal Building Wall and Roof Systems

The goal of this study is to quantify the restraint provided by insulated metal panels (IMPs) to girts and purlins in a metal building wall and roof system. These panels are fastened to their support members with screws that are either uniformly spaced across the panel width and penetrate through the entire panel thickness or that fasten through clips concealed within the side joint located at the panel side edges only. Current through-fastened panel design methodology in the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members does not provide guidance for secondary member design when these panels are employed, thus each new IMP product requires costly testing as part of a wall or roof system in a vacuum chamber.