The effect of concrete panel thickness upon composite steel plate shear walls

Abstract

In this study, the analytical study of concrete stiffened steel plate shear wall (CSPSW) with a reinforced concrete panel on one side and with gap between the concrete panel and steel frame is conducted. CSPSWs have a variety of infill steel plate and reinforced concrete panel thicknesses. The results show that the behavior of CSPSWs and corresponding steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) is utterly disparate. The infill steel plate of SPSW resists lateral load by development of tension fields, as the infill steel plate initiates elastic buckling. However, in CSPSW, the elastic buckling of the infill steel plate is prevented by the introduction of the reinforced concrete panel; hence, the infill steel plate carries out lateral load by pure shear yield. Moreover, during the lateral load, CSPSW undergoes four stages: initial elastic stiffness, shear yield stiffness, post-shear yielding stiffness, and pre-failure stiffness.The reinforced concrete panel thickness has a remarkable and direct influence upon the shear capacity and the ultimate strength of the CSPSW; furthermore, it is dependent upon the thickness of infill steel plate. Increasing the concrete panel thickness up to a specific value, the shear capacity and the ultimate strength enhance; however, while increasing it beyond that, the shear capacity and the ultimate shear strength of CSPSW remain constant. CSPSW provides a higher initial elastic stiffness, greater shear capacity, and higher ultimate strength as compared to its corresponding SPSW. The ductility ratio and energy absorption of CSPSW is improved owing to introduction of reinforced concrete panel as well.