Structural behavior of composite wall systems strengthened with embedded cold-formed steel tube

• Finite element simulations of profiled composite wall strengthened with embedded cold form steel tube with various shapes and thickness were studied.
• The ECFS offers greatest stiffness, flexibility and ductility of all the FE CW models, compared to an existing experimental test.
• The effects of the ECFS reduced the buckling of the PSS and increased the axial load resistance of the composite wall system.
• Reasonable degree of accuracy was achieved when compared all FE models with Euro Code 4 (EC4).

This paper presents a finite element (FE) model, which is validated and developed to simulate the axial load behavior of an existing experimental composite wall consisting of double-skinned profiled steel sheet (PSS) in-filled with normal concrete. This type of wall is designed to resist the axial load in the composite structure buildings. The performance of three FE models, namely, PSS only, in-filled concrete only and full composite wall system (two PSS in-filled with concrete) are accurately compared with an existing experimental test. Then, the validated FE models are utilized to perform comprehensive parametric studies which presented information about the effect of the ECFS thickness, number of the ECFS, and ECFS shapes on the load resisting behavior of the composite wall. After comparing all FE models with Euro Code 4 (EC4), the results showed reasonable degree of accuracy.