Estimating the Required RC Panel Thickness for Composite Shear Walls Subjected to Cyclic Loading

The Composite Steel Plate Shear Wall (CSPSW) emerges as a prominent lateral load-resisting system for high-rise structures. Designed to enhance the performance of steel plate shear walls and prevent steel plate buckling prior to shear yielding, this system integrates the concept of stiffening through concrete panels flanking the infill steel plate. Thus, meticulous consideration of concrete panel properties, particularly thickness under varying system conditions, stands pivotal in achieving desired design objectives.This study delves into determining the minimum required thickness of concrete panels adjacent to the infill plate utilizing the finite element method. Finite element models are meticulously crafted and analyzed using the Abaqus software package. The estimation of the minimum required thickness of concrete panels is predicated on confining the steel plate within specified drift limits under cyclic loading conditions. Varied parameters, including two height-to-width ratios of the wall, four thicknesses of the steel plate, and two distinct spacings for the shear studs, are considered. The research findings indicate an apparent trend wherein a decrease in the height-to-width ratio of the system corresponds to a reduction in the minimum required thickness of the concrete panel. For instance, with a ۱۰ mm steel plate and a shear stud spacing of ۵۰۰ mm, concrete panel thicknesses of ۱۱۰ mm and ۸۰ mm are necessitated for height-to-width ratios of ۱ and ۰.۵, respectively. Furthermore, employing a shear stud spacing of ۲۵۰ mm mitigates the dependency of concrete panel thickness on other variables, rendering a consistent requirement of an ۸۰ mm concrete panel across all cases, ensuring optimal system capacity. In summary, the research underscores that the conventional design code-prescribed thicknesses of concrete panels (۱۰۰ mm) appear highly conservative in most scenarios, as revealed by the study's comprehensive analysis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Composite steel plate shear wall ، Reinforced-concrete panel ، Required thickness ، Cyclic loading ، Finite element ، Abaqus.