Experimental study on seismic behavior of oblique channel stiffened steel plate shear wall with side openings

In order to study the effect of opening forms and channel steel stiffeners on the seismic performance of steel plate shear walls (SPSWs), quasi-static tests were carried out on two 1/3 scale one-bay two-story oblique channel stiffened SPSWs with openings. The load-displacement curves, failure characteristics and skeleton curves etc. of diagonal channel stiffened SPSW with two side rectangular openings (specimen DSRO2) and multi-oblique channel steel stiffened SPSW with one side rectangular opening (specimen MOSRO) were obtained. The bearing capacity, ductility, degradation characteristics, and energy dissipation capacity of the two SPSWs were analyzed. Considering the effect of stiffeners, the formula to limit the minimum thickness of the beam web at the opening was given through analyzing the stress condition of the frame beams. The experimental results show that the two SPSWs have good seismic performance. The hysteresis loops of the specimen DSRO2 are spindle-shaped, which exhibit good capacity of energy consumption. At the initial loading stage, the hysteresis loops of the specimen MOSRO have a "pinch" phenomenon. After the formation of energy dissipation segment in beam, the "pinch" phenomenon disappears. The channel stiffeners can effectively limit the buckling deformation of the infill plate. There is no torsion during the loading process. Thus, the failure of the stiffeners is avoided and the stiffening effect is guaranteed. The shear resistance of the middle beam web of specimen DSRO2 at the opening is increased by about 30% due to the action of channel steel stiffeners. It is suggested that the web of the beam at the opening should be reasonably strengthened to avoid the premature yield of the beam. © 2020, Editorial Office of Journal of Building Structures. All right reserved.