Experimental Investigation into the Hysteretic Performance of a Novel Shear Wall made of Two Incline-Slotted Steel Plates Connected by High-Strength Steel Bolts

Abstract

Energy dissipation capacity is a critical parameter in seismic design, reflecting a structure’s ability to absorb and dissipate energy under earthquake or dynamic loads. In steel structures, this parameter plays a vital role in maintaining structural integrity and ensuring safety. This study introduces a novel slotted steel plate shear wall (S-SPSW) system, comprising two inclined slotted infill plates (ISIPs) connected by high-strength steel bolts. The configuration of the infill plates is designed such that, under cyclic loading, one side of the wall experiences tensile forces while the opposite side undergoes compressive forces simultaneously. To evaluate the hysteretic performance of the proposed system, two one-third scale SPSW specimens were fabricated and subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading tests. Key performance indicators, including hysteretic behavior, shear capacity, and energy dissipation capacity, were experimentally assessed. The results demonstrate that the S-SPSW system enhances energy dissipation capacity by approximately 15.66% compared to conventional SPSW systems, highlighting its potential as a system that is capable of effectively resisting lateral loads in seismic applications.