Experimental Research on Effect of Shear Connectors on Mechanical Properties of Steel-Plate Concrete Composite Walls Under Axial Compression

The effect of shear connectors on mechanical and deformation properties of steel-plate concrete composite walls subjected to axial compressive loading was studied through experiment and finite element numerical simulation. The testing program involved four composite wall specimens with different ratios (the number of studs-to-tie bars). The results showed that the four walls failed in a similar brittle failure mode characterized by compressive yielding of the steel plates, then outward local buckling of the steel plates, crushing of inner concrete, and failure of the weld, except for DSW-12. The yielding and outward local buckling of the steel plates had little influence on the stiffness of the walls. The relative proportion of the tie bar had little effect on the axial compressive stiffness, bearing capacity, local buckling load of steel plate, and failure mode, but the tie bar could restrain outward local deformation. With the same section and distance-to-thickness ratio, the higher the proportion of the tie bar, the smaller the outward local buckling deformation of the steel plate.