Experimental and analytical investigation on shear behavior of profiled steel sheet dry board composite wall system

Profiled steel sheet dry board (PSSDB) composite wall/panel system with advantages (like lightweight, enhanced flexibility, low-cost, simple pre-fabrication/erection process, no temporary formwork requirement etc.) is an innovative construction technology that has significant potential to be used as a viable alternative to its conventional counterparts in earthquake prone region. No significant research study is available on the structural behavior of PSSDB composite walls under in-plane shear loading. Nineteen PSSDB panels consisted of single profiled steel sheet (PSS) assembled with single or double plywood dry board (DB) are tested under shear loading to failure. The effects of boundary frame, central opening, concrete in-fill, fastener orientation, and panel geometry on load-deformation response, strength and failure modes are investigated and compared. Analytical models for shear capacities of PSSDB composite system of various configurations are developed based on modified code-based/existing equations and their performance validated using experimental results. These analytical models can be used by engineers in designing PSSDB composite system for practical construction.