Behavior and design method of double skin composite wall under axial compression

This paper presents an experimental and analytical study on the behavior of DSCW loaded in axial compression. Two full-scale tests of DSCW were conducted under the axial compressive load. The effect of the height of DSCW was taken into consideration. Moreover, the failure mode, axial load versus displacement relationship, displacement ductility, and strain response of DSCW were studied comprehensively. The results showed that all DSCW specimens underwent a similar damage process and exhibited the global buckling failure mode. DSCW can provide high axial load-carrying capacity and satisfied displacement ductility. The nonlinear FE model, which could capture the material and geometric nonlinearity of DSCW was proposed and validated against test results. Parametric analysis was conducted to study the influence of various parameters (yield strength of steel, thickness of steel plate, width-to-thickness ratio, and compressive strength of infilled concrete.) on the axial behavior of DSCW. The formulae for calculating the cross-sectional axial load-carrying capacity of DSCW were proposed. The predicted results agreed well with the FEA results. The theoretical formulae for predicting the axial load-carrying capacity of DSCW were present and validated by the test results. The proposed design method could provide a reliable reference for designing DSCW under axial load. •DSCW exhibits global buckling failure mode under axial compression.•The nonlinear FE model, which could capture the material and geometric nonlinearity of DSCW, was proposed.•Parametric study was conducted to investigate the axial behavior of DSCW.•The formulae for calculating the cross-sectional axial load-carrying capacity of DSCW were proposed.•The theoretical formulae for predicting the axial load-carrying capacity of DSCW are proposed.