Experiments on Partially Coupled Concrete Wall System with Perforated Steel Beam

A series of cyclic loading tests was carried out for five half-scale hybrid steel coupling beams to evaluate the seismic performance of a partially coupled wall system with different design parameters. This system comprises the structural concrete wall, embedded steel beam, steel coupling beam with bolted connection, and top-seat angles. The two primary test parameters were the web opening size of the coupling beam that determines its shear-to-moment capacity ratio, and the presence of the top-seat angles. Test results showed that the shear-to-moment capacity ratio of the coupling beam greatly influences their deformation and energy dissipation capacities, as well as the degree of concrete wall damage. Top-seat angles were also found to increase the lateral stiffness and energy dissipation of the coupled shear wall system. Creation of the web opening leads to enhanced seismic performance of the beam as a replaceable structural fuse. Based on the test results, a design procedure of the hybrid steel coupling beam system with bolted connections is proposed.