Key Parameters Influencing the Behavior of Steel Plate Shear Walls (SPSW)

The complex behavior of Steel Plate Shear Walls (SPSW) is investigated herein through nonlinear FE simulations. A 3D detailed FE model is developed and validated utilizing experimental results available in the literature. The influence of key parameters on the structural behavior is investigated. The considered parameters are: the infill plate thickness, the beam size, the column size, the infill plate material grade and the frame material grade. Several structural responses are used as criteria to quantify their influence on the SPSW behavior. The evaluated structural responses are: yield strength, yield displacement, ultimate strength, initial stiffness and secondary stiffness. The results show that, overall the most influential parameter is the infill plate thickness followed by the beam size. Also, it was found that the least influential parameter is the frame material grade.