Seismic behavior of cold-formed steel frame shear walls sheathed with ply-bamboo panels

This paper presents an experimental study on the monotonic and cyclic lateral loading behavior of cold-formed steel (CFS) shear walls sheathed with glued laminated bamboo (glubam ply-bamboo) panels. A total of 16 model shear wall specimens with two types of aspect ratios were tested using ASTM loading protocols. The observed phenomena and the effects of different cyclic loading regimes are discussed. The shear capacity and deformability of ply-bamboo sheathed CFS shear walls are evaluated and compared with wood sheathing panel (WSP) sheathed CFS shear walls through four seismic equivalency parameters recommended by American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in 2010 (AISI-RP10-4 2010). The load distribution of the screws along the vertical edges of the panels and the forces in the shear anchors are discussed. The results obtained in this study can further promote the application of bamboo-based material in CFS structures, as potential options for eco-friendly and cost-effective construction.