Cyclic behavior of low yield point steel shear walls

This paper presents the research works on the cyclic behavior of low yield point (LYP) steel shear wall. In the LYP steel shear wall system, the LYP steel plate is used for steel panel and conventional structural steel is used for boundary frame. A series of experimental studies were carried out to examine the stiffness, strength, deformation capacity, and energy dissipation capacity of the LYP steel shear wall under cyclic load. The effect of width-to-thickness ratio of steel plate, continuity of shear wall, and the design of beam-to-column connections on the boundary frame was examined. Good energy dissipation capacities were obtained for all specimens studied. Excellent deformation capacities were obtained from both rigid frame–shear wall system and simple frame–shear wall system. The LYP steel shear wall is able to maintain stable up to 3–6% of story drift angle. A two-force strip model was also proposed to simulate the elastic and inelastic behavior of shear wall system. Good correlations were found between experimental and analytical studies. Based on these research findings, suggestions are made for the design of LYP steel shear wall systems.