Cyclic inelastic in-plane flexural behavior of concrete-filled, sandwich steel panel walls with different cross-section properties

Flexure-dominated, concrete-filled, sandwich steel plate walls (CFSSP-Walls) walls have been studied experimentally by various researchers using a small number of cross-sections and wall aspect ratios. Using these past results to calibrate finite element models, the expected behavior of CFSSP-Walls having different geometries and cross-section properties is investigated here using finite element approaches. Results obtained show that the plastic moment can be used to conservatively predict maximum flexural strength in all cases considered and to provide valuable insights into stress and strain demands at various points during nonlinear response. Results also provide quantification of the contribution of concrete infill on the wall effective stiffness, assessment of wall ductility having a failure criteria based on cumulative plastic strain at steel plate fracture, and effect of wall flange width on the wall behavior of T-shaped sections.