Finite element modeling of double skin profiled composite shear wall system under in-plane loadings

This paper presents the development and validation of finite element (FE) models to simulate the behavior of a novel composite shear wall system consisting of two skins of profiled steel sheeting and an infill of concrete under in-plane loadings. This walling system has potential to be used as shear elements to resist lateral loads in steel framed building. Steel sheet-concrete connections are provided by intermediate fasteners along the height and width of the wall to generate composite action. The performance of two FE models using “surface tie constrains” and “contact surface” to simulate the steel sheet-concrete interface behavior is compared. FE model using the “contact surface” is found to provide better simulation of the behavior of experimental composite walls. The FE model simulated stresses, failure mode, buckling patterns in the profiled steel sheet and concrete cracking are found comparable with those obtained from experiments. The validated models are then utilized to carry out an extensive parametric study to understand the influence of material and steel-concrete interaction parameters (concrete compressive strength, steel strength and interface connector spacing) on the structural behavior of composite shear walls. The parametric study provided information on the optimum spacing of interface connectors to prevent shear buckling of profiled steel sheets before failure. The developed finite element models are found to be capable of simulating the behavior of composite walls under in-plane loadings with reasonable degree of accuracy.