An Experimental Investigation of Plate Zipping Prevention in Steel Plate Shear Walls by Using the Corner Stiffeners

Plate in steel plate shear walls has high capability for earthquake energy damping. The Experimental investigations show that the plate zipping in corner and edge of plate is the cause of damage and failure in steel plate shear walls. For prevention of zipping the first, classic theory is investigated using finite element and then a steel plate shear wall specimen was tested experimentally with using four stiffeners in the edges. The results show that the plate zipping doesnt occur when the stiffeners are used in the edges of plate. In the specimen, tearing was started from the stiffener corner and then extended up to the triangular area which is closed between stiffener and fish plate edges. Finally the tearing speard smoothly to the edge of fish plate in the out of aforesaid triangular area. Also the stiffeners are capable to create a post buckling field after tearing of plate.