Nonlinear seismic analysis of innovative steel and concrete hybrid coupled shear walls in OpenSees

An innovative hybrid coupled shear wall (HCSW) system made of a reinforced concrete wall coupled to steel side columns by means of steel links is studied. This structural solution is conceived to exploit both the stiffness of reinforced concrete elements, necessary to limit building damage under low-intensity earthquakes, and the ductility of steel elements, necessary to dissipate energy under medium- and high-intensity earthquakes, limiting the seismic damage to the link elements that can be easily substituted. A number of case studies are designed and their seismic behaviour assessed through multi-record nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis. Details of the finite element models developed in OpenSees are provided and discussed, including their validation against experimental tests. A selection of results is shown to highlight the potentialities of the proposed innovative HCSW systems and the possibility to develop a ductile behaviour where plastic deformation are attained in the steel links before yielding in the reinforced concrete wall.