In-Plane Seismic Behavior of Rectangular Steel-Plate Composite Wall Piers

Abstract

An experimental study investigated the behavior of large-scale steel-plate composite (SC) walls subjected to cyclic lateral loading. The testing program involved four rectangular SC wall specimens with an aspect ratio (height-to-length) of 1.0. The specimens were anchored to a concrete basemat with a pretensioned bolted connection that was designed to be stronger than the walls. The design parameters considered in the investigation were wall thickness, reinforcement ratio, stud spacing, and tie bar spacing. The pretest analyses, global force-displacement responses, contributions of the steel faceplates and infill concrete to the lateral resistance, load transfer between the faceplates and infill concrete, and damage to the face plates and infill, are documented. The four SC walls failed in a flexural mode characterized by tensile cracking of the concrete, tensile yielding of the steel plates, crushing of concrete at the toes of the wall, outward local buckling of the steel faceplates, and fracture of the steel faceplates. The walls achieved the peak shearing strengths estimated using simplified procedures and ABAQUS. Pinching of the force-displacement response was observed at displacements greater than those associated with peak load. The distance between the baseplate and the first row of connectors affected the postpeak shear strength behavior and the fracture of the faceplates. The connection of the SC wall to the foundation block had a significant influence on the initial stiffness of the walls.