An Experimental Study on the Hysteric Behavior of Composite Shear Walls

Due to architectural and structural requirements, the use of composite shear walls becomes necessary in reinforced concrete high-rise structures subjected to earthquake loads. Composite shear walls also play an important role to limit the inter-story drift displacements during severe earthquakes in terms of load bearing system performance. Within the scope of this study, composite shear wall (CSW) with 1/3 scaled end zones, consisting of bended steel plates, were formed. The dimensions of the bended steel plates used in the shear wall end zones were 4L - 24x65x5 mm. The composite shear wall was tested under the effect of hysteric horizontal loadings in the earthquake laboratories in Selcuk University, and its behavior was examined. Measurements were taken; the load displacement curves, load displacement envelopes, inter-story drift angle were shown in graphs and evaluated; and the distribution of the cracks that formed on the plates were studied in details.