Behavior and design considerations of steel plate shear wall with self-centering energy dissipation braces

An innovative steel plate shear wall with self-centering energy dissipation braces (SPSW-SCEDB) is proposed, and the mechanical behavior is explained. The system has excellent self-centering capability when the remaining restoring force of the braces is greater than or equal to the compressive force of the wall plate. On the basis of capacity design principles, the distribution equations of bending moment, axial force, and shear force along the beam are developed and then verified by cyclic loading analysis. The effects of the SPSW-SCEDB parameters on the bending moment distribution are investigated using an orthogonal experiment and the sequence of plastic hinge appearance in the beam is also analyzed. Results indicate that to satisfy the strength and residual deformation requirements of the system, the initial force of the brace and the thickness of the wall plate should be sufficiently large, and the brace activation force should be controlled to ensure that the plastic hinge in the beam appears before the in-span plastic hinge. The design procedure of the SPSW-SCEDB is presented.