Studding the Behavior of Semi- supported Steel Shear Wall against Monotonic and Cyclic Loads

The formation of a plastic hinge at the bottom of steel shear wall columns can lead to a total collapse of the structure. To overcome this defect, Semi-supported Steel Shear Wall systems (SSSWs) are introduced. In these systems, boundary columns are separated from the mainframe columns with a specific distance and only tolerate the lateral seismic forces. So, even these columns experience the plasticity, the mainframe does not experience any damages. Evaluating the behavior of SSSW is restricted to some limited laboratory studies. Since experimental evaluation of the effects of factors such as wall web thickness, web stiffness (one or both side), and the shape of boundary element is too much expensive, in this paper the effect of aforementioned parameters on elastic stiffness, energy absorption capacity, ultimate strength and ductility is evaluated by finite element simulation. First, the numerical model verified and the other models have been produced based on the verification model. Based on numerical simulation the results show that changing the shape of boundary columns does not affect the linear and non-linear response of SSSWs. But using vertical and horizontal web stiffness in one or both sides of the shear wall plus using mid-span secondary column increases the elastic stiffness, energy absorption capacity, ultimate strength while decreases the ductility due to increasing the out of plane stiffness of shear web plate. Moreover, increasing web panel thickness from 2 to 4 mm, increases the elastic stiffness, energy absorption capacity, ultimate strength, and ductility.