Models for strength and stiffness of steel plate shear walls with openings

Steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) are being increasingly used as a lateral load resisting mechanism in buildings, particularly in highly seismic zones. Their lighter weight compared to reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls, more predictable performance, and ability to accommodate openings make them advantageous. While the characterization and design of SPSWs without openings are well understood, a detailed system-level understanding of SPSWs with openings is still lacking. This study assesses the inelastic behavior of SPSW systems with different types of openings to enhance this understanding and provide guidance in design. Models for shear strength and stiffness degradation of SPSW with arbitrarily-located opening are proposed. The study found that the size and location of the openings can have significant effects on the performance of the SPSW system. It was found that it is preferable to have openings of sizes less than 15%, aspect ratio of one, circular shape, and located at the central-bottom location of the plate. This study will enable a more rational design of SPSWs with openings and can serve as a guide for estimation of critical parameters such as the reduced shear strength and initial stiffness of SPSWs in different design scenarios.