Finite element analysis on composite steel-concrete shear walls with centered and staggered openings

Present paper presents a comparative study made on the seismic performance of composite steel-concrete shear walls with rectangular openings, by performing numerical analyses using ATENA 3D software. Two specimens were designed at a reduced scale 1:3 having similar arrangements in the cross-section and the same geometry. First element was conceived with centered openings while the second one was designed with staggered openings. Steel connectors disposed as horizontal stiffeners were used to design and to assure the full connection between the structural steel profiles embedded in the edges and the concrete core. The openings that were considered on each story of the walls, were having the dimension of a common architectural door. A part of the results recorded from the experimental tests were used to calibrate the numerical models. This study aims to establish the seismic performance and to investigate the influence of the openings and the geometric position on the overall seismic behavior of the composite shear walls. Key parameters which describe the seismic performance of structural elements such: bearing capacity, deformation capacity, stiffness degradation, cracks and strain development are compared between the specimens and discussed. The results showed that different arrangements of the openings could significantly modify or increase the seismic performance of the composite structural walls.