Numerical and analytical study of ultimate capacity of steel plate shear walls with partial plate-column connection (SPSW-PC)

This research endeavor intends to use the numerical and analytical approaches to investigate the ultimate shear capacity of steel plate shear walls with partial plate-column connection (SPSW-PC). This study aims to provide an analytical relationship for estimating the ultimate capacity of SPSW-PC. Using plastic analysis and considering the mechanism of plastic hinge formation, a relation has been obtained for estimating the ultimate capacity of SPSW-PCs. Extensive parametric studies have been carried out using a nonlinear finite element method to examine the accuracy of the obtained analytical relationships. The parametric studies include investigating the influence of infill plate thickness and width-to-height ratio as well as the ratio of the plate-column detachment length of SPSW-PCs. To this end, comprehensive verification studies are initially performed by comparing the numerical predictions with several reported experimental results to demonstrate the numerical method's reliability and accuracy. Comparison is made between the hysteresis curves, failure modes, and base shear capacities predicted numerically or obtained/observed experimentally. The results show a sound compromise between the ultimate capacity of the analytical relationship and numerical models of parametric studies. Although removing the connection between the web-plate and columns can be beneficial by decreasing the overall system demand on the vertical boundary members, based on the results and findings of this research study, such detachment can reduce the stiffness and strength capacities of steel shear walls by about 25%, on average.