Numerical Study of the Combination of Steel Shear Wall with Eccentric Bracing Under Cyclic Loads

In structural designs, lateral strength systems are used to withstand lateral loads such as earthquakes and winds. Bending frame system with divergent bracing and Bending frame system with steel shear wall are two of these systems that have both advantages and disadvantages. Thus far, various research has been conducted separately on one of the above systems. This research seeks to numerically investigate the combination of steel shear wall with eccentric bracing under cyclic loads. To this aim and to ensure the numerical results, a laboratory sample was validated and then 126 models were modeled in seven modes by considering different arrangements of divergent bracing and steel shear wall in three openings of a floor with Abaqus software. In these samples, the placement of divergent bracing and steel shear wall in addition to their placement in different openings were evaluated taking into consideration different thicknesses of steel shear wall sheets and different numbers of the downspout with the aim of assessing the effect of combining steel shear wall and divergent bracing in steel frames. The results of the analysis indicated that the lowest increase in force was related to the sixth mode of modeling, the combination of steel shear wall in two openings and bracing in one opening and downspout number 10 with a value of 15.57% increase in force. Furthermore, the highest amount of force was related to the third mode of modeling using two divergent bracing openings and one opening of steel shear wall and downspout number 12 amounting to 77.45% increase in force.