Seismic Performance of Steel Plate Shear Wall Frames

Abstract

The chapter discusses the seismic performance of steel plate shear wall frames (SPSW). An experimental test program on SPSW is outlined and some key test results are presented in the chapter. A total of three specimens are tested in the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE). All the specimens utilized low-yield strength (LYS) steel for the infill panel and reduced beam sections (RBS) at the ends of the beams. Two specimens constructed either with two or three horizontal steel tube restrainers on both sides of the infill panel. One specimen has an infill solid panel but no restrainer. The purposes of the restrainers are to increase the shear buckling strength and result in more energy dissipation in the LYP panel. Preliminary test results suggest that the buckling restrainers are effective in improving the energy dissipation capacity of the SPSWs. It effectively reduces the amplitude of the cyclic out-of-plane buckling of the thin steel infill panel and enhances the serviceability of the SPSW system during a severe earthquake.