Lateral load response of L-shaped steel–concrete composite shear walls using multi-partition steel tube

Behavior of L-shaped multi-partition steel–concrete composite shear walls (MP-SC-CSWs) subjected to the cyclic lateral load is experimentally and numerically evaluated. Such composite shear walls possess proper capacity, stiffness, and ductility, as the steel tube strengthened by inner steel plates considerably confines the infill concrete. Four large-scale L-shaped MP-SC-CSW specimens were designed, fabricated, and tested. The L-shaped specimens were exposed to lateral hysteretic loading and axial compression loading. The experimental parameters were axial load ratios and height-to-depth ratios (wall aspect ratios). The experimental results indicated that the L-shaped MP-SC-CSWs had high lateral capacities, energy dissipations, and good ductility. Based on the experimental observations, specimens failed in flexure mode. Increasing the axial load ratio enhances the capacity to dissipate energy but decreases the ductility. The tested specimens could meet the drift requirement of the specification even when subjected to a high design axial load ratio of 0.76. Additionally, the wall aspect ratios had little influence on the ductility. 3D nonlinear finite element models of tested specimens were established and verified with test results to conduct further numerical studies. A simplified method based on the plastic stress distribution was developed and confirmed by the experimental and finite element analysis to calculate the flexural capacities of MP-SC-CSWs.