The behaviour and design of concrete filled composite walls (CF-CWs) under different loading conditions

Abstract

The application of concrete filled composite walls (CF-CWs) has attracted steadily increasing interests over the past few decades. Compared with reinforced concrete (RC) walls, concrete filled composite walls which are composed of exterior steel plates, infilled concrete and shear connectors have a number of advantages. The exterior steel plates and shear connectors can be prefabricated in shops and assembled on site to enhance modular construction. The assembled modules can perform as permanent formwork and falsework to resist the construction load and hydrostatic loads induced before and during concrete casting. After concrete casting, CF-CWs can resist in-plane shear forces and overturning moment with less weight and reduced dimensions. The modularity concept of CF-CWs can contribute to the shorter construction schedule, less cost, and better structural performance.

In line with this background, this thesis focuses on the behaviour and design of concrete filled composite walls. A complete series of investigations are carried out in terms of different loading conditions, i.e. axial compression, static lateral load as well as combined axial compression and static lateral load.