Flexural design of modular cover panels in buckling-restrained steel plate shear walls: Experimental and numerical study

One single cover panel of the buckling-restrained steel plate shear walls (BRSPSWs) can be divided into multiple modular cover panels (MCPs) for convenient transportation and installation. In this paper, the flexural design of MCPs in BRSPSWs is investigated by experimental and numerical methods. One BRSPSW with single cover panels and two BRSPSWs with MCPs are tested under pseudo-static cyclic load to measure the force acting on the MCPs due to the buckling of the steel plate. The main test parameter is the arrangement mode of MCPs and the out-of-plane acting force were recorded. Finite element (FE) models are established and validated, and the effect of the division of cover panels on the buckling behavior and out-of-plane acting force of the inner steel plate is determined. Gap width to thickness ratio smaller than 20 and unidirectional arrangement modes of MCPs are recommended. Models and formulas were proposed to calculate the maximum bending moment in MCPs. Coefficients considering the panel segment aspects and non-uniform loads are derived. The accuracy of the formula is verified by comparing with the FE results.