ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF DIAGONALLY STIFFENED STEEL PLATE SHEAR WALLS

Abstract

This thesis investigates the behavior of diagonally stiffened steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) under cyclic loads. Sequential studies are conducted to accomplish the most effective steel system capability to withstand cyclic loads. Different behaviors such as hysteresis curves, ultimate shear strength, effective stiffness and ductility, out-of-plane deformations, and energy dissipation capacity are considered to differentiate between the un-stiffened and stiffened SPSW. It is found that the use of diagonal stiffeners improved the ultimate shear strength, effective stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation coefficient of SPSW by 15%, 29%, 10%, and 13%, respectively. Columns of diagonally stiffened SPSW should be designed to assure effective resistance towards the impact of tension field without buckling and plastic collapse of the system before full yielding of the in-fill plate.