Numerical and experimental investigation of composite steel shear wall with opening

Shear walls are used in towers as lateral loading resistance. Composite steel shear wall (CSSW) because of high stiffness and deformability are widely used. This wall made of a thin steel plate with reinforced a concrete layer, which is attached to one or both sides of the steel plate. This system is similar to stiffened steel plate shear wall. The present experimental and numerical studies were focused on the effects of opening used as windows or doors in buildings on the CSSW behavior. Experimental studies results of one and three-story CSSWs with the scale of 1:3 are reported. In addition, the effects of opening size and location are insignificant on the composite steel shear walls behavior. Results showed that opening decrease CSSW strength. Opening at the sides and corners further reduces the resistance than Opening at the center.