Theoretical Models for Tie Bar Maximum Axial Force Demand in Composite Plate Shear Walls–Concrete Filled

This paper presents theoretical models developed for the prediction of the maximum axial force demands of tie bars of planar composite plate shear walls–concrete filled (C-PSW/CF). In the development of the theory, a previously benchmarked finite element (FE) wall model was used with some modifications. The results from the FE models were used to demonstrate the formation of the tie bar axial force demands, passive lateral confining pressure, concrete confinement, effectively confined concrete core and to develop theoretical models for the prediction of tie bar maximum force demands. The proposed method accounts for various aspects of wall geometry such as horizontal and vertical tie bar spacings, steel plate thickness, and wall thickness. The predictions of the proposed theoretical models were compared with the predictions of FE analyses by performing a parametric study involving C-PSW/CF having different tie bar spacings, plate thickness, wall thickness, and wall depths. Past experimental research available in the literature were used to evaluate the significance of the theoretical model in predicting tie bar maximum axial force demands. Tie bar axial force demand due to the confinement effect is not currently considered in the design of tie bars and there is no theoretical approach in the literature that considers the effect of confinement on the tie bar axial force demand. The theoretical models presented in this study allow the determination of the maximum axial force demands due to the confinement effect on planar C-PSW/CF tie bars without the need for complex and costly numerical analysis.