Experimental study on the effect of square opening size and location on cyclic response of steel plate shear walls

Abstract This paper presents the results from an experimental and numerical study on the effects of square openings on Steel Plate Shear Wall (SPSW) systems. For this purpose, seven specimens were tested under quasi-static loading. In addition to a specimen with solid panel, the effects of the opening’s location and size were studied through testing six specimens. Furthermore, a parametric study consisting of 36 calibrated Finite Element (FE) models was carried out considering the size, location, and height-to-length ratio of the opening as variables, which proposed reduction factors in stiffness and strength of perforated SPSW systems compared to the corresponding solid one. Based on the data of this study, the presence of a square opening at the diagonal of the SPSW specimens with the relative opening-to-panel area of 4.00, 6.76, and 10.24% resulted in the reduction of maximum shear capacity by 16%, 34%, and 38%, respectively. Moreover, this reduction in stiffness was 12%, 15%, and 25%, respectively. The pinching in hysteresis curves of all the specimens was observed because of successive buckling and snap-back of the panel. In all the specimens, the response was stable in terms of ductility with a significant energy dissipation capacity up to the drift ratio of 1.0% after which the stiffeners around the opening perimeter were detached, and the panel experienced zipping at the corners of the opening, which itself resulted in significant strength degradation.