Axial Load Behavior of Acomposite Wall Strengthened with an Embedded Octagon Cold-Formed Steel

Abstract

This study investigates the axial load behavior of an existing composite wall consists of a double-skinned profiled steel sheet in-filled with normal concrete. Three different composite walls in three-dimensional finite element models were developed, i.e. profiled steel sheet (PSS), core concrete, and the full composite wall system. The models were simulated and compared with the experimental results published by other researchers. Studies are then carried out on different effect of varying the PSS thicknesses, an embedded octagon cold-formed steel (CFS) thickness, and an embedded octagon CFS supported by two stiffeners with different shapes. As a result, the ultimate axial load of the composite wall was increased by approximately 3.3% when PSS thickness changed from 0.8 mm to 1.0mm. Meanwhile, the ultimate axial load was also increased by 17% and 55% when an embedded octagon CFS with thicknesses of 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm were used. Lastly, the ultimate axial load was raised by 54% and 78% when an L-shaped and a T-shaped stiffener were added.