Self-centering steel-timber hybrid shear wall with slip friction dampers: Theoretical analysis and experimental investigation

An innovative self-centering steel-timber hybrid shear wall (SC-STHSW) system is proposed as a promising structural solution for earthquake-resilient buildings. The SC-STHSW is composed of posttensioned (PT) steel rocking frame and infill light-frame wood shear wall. The PT steel frame provides self-centering capability, whereas the infill wood shear wall improves the lateral stiffness and the load resistance. Meanwhile, friction dampers are assembled into the connections between the steel frame and the infill wall to provide energy dissipation. Theoretical analysis and cyclic loading test were conducted to comprehend the load-resisting behavior of the proposed SC-STHSW system, and closed-form solutions of the moment, shear, and axial force distribution along the length of the steel beam were formulated. Moreover, a nonlinear finite element model was developed, and the model was further used to verify the derived theoretical formulas. Results showed that the SC-STHSW system was able to undergo large interstory drift without the development of plastic zones in the steel frame members, which resulted in very small residual deformation. The presented experimental and numerical results aim to provide a practical structural solution for high-performance earthquake-resilient buildings.