Experimental and numerical investigation in to the axial load behaviour of profiled composite walls reinforced by embedded tubes with comprehensive parametric study

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigation on the axial load behaviour of profiled composite wall (PCW) consisted of two profiled steel sheet (PSS) in-filled with concrete and reinforced with/without embedded cold formed steel tubes (CFSTs). This type of composite walls was designed to resist the in-plan axial loading (bearing wall) in buildings designed with shear walls system. The results of three different FE models, namely, NCW-FE, Oct-FE and OCT-LFE were accurately verified with the results of three experimental specimens, namely, NCW-Exp, Oct- Exp and OCT-LExp. Then, after the verification study for the FE models a comprehensive parametric study was presented to show detailed information about the positive effect of the internal CFSTs thickness, number and cross sectional shapes with and without stiffeners on the axial load behaviour of the PCW. The effect of the PSSs thickness and the concrete compressive strength on the axial load resisting behaviour of the PCW was studied as well. The results of this study proved that the effects of the embedded CFSTs reduced the local buckling of the PSS and increased the ductility with the axial load resistance of the PCW.