Deformation capacity of concrete-filled steel plate composite shear walls

• An analysis program for analyzing the wall moment–curvature behavior was developed.
• A parametric study was performed on 6379 configurations.
• The key variables affecting the wall deformation capacity were investigated.
• Simplified formulas for calculating the ultimate curvature were developed.

Composite shear walls are becoming popular in high-rise buildings for their high load-carrying and deformation capacities. The deformation capacity of composite shear walls is a key response characteristic for seismic resistance, and depends on a complex interaction of geometric and material properties, which needs to be explored. Based on a fiber section analysis approach using refined material constitutive models, an analysis program was developed to analyze the moment–curvature behavior of concrete-filled steel plate composite shear walls. The accuracy of the program was verified against available test results. A parametric study was then performed on 6379 configurations to study the effect of variables such as axial compression ratio, concrete strength, steel content ratio, and boundary element concrete confinement on the deformation capacity of the concrete-filled steel plate composite wall cross sections. The results were analyzed to develop simplified formulas based on geometric and material inputs for calculating the ultimate curvature which was defined as the curvature associated with a 15% loss in moment capacity. The formulas for calculating the ultimate curvature can be further used to calculate the drift capacities and ductility of composite shear walls.