This paper presents an experimental study on the cyclic performance of large-scale composite plate shear walls–concrete encased (C-PSW/CE). Three C-PSW/CE specimens with concrete panels of different thicknesses were tested under cyclic loading. Their failure mode, lateral load–drift ratio relationship, strength and stiffness deterioration, and hysteretic energy dissipation were systematically analyzed. Initial concrete cracking occurred at a drift ratio of approximately 0.24%, while the three specimens reached their load-bearing capacities at a drift ratio of 1.34%. The results demonstrated that concrete panel thickness significantly influences the buckling behavior of the steel web plate. Thicker concrete panels provide enhanced out-of-plane restraint stiffness, delaying steel plate buckling and shifting the failure mode from overall to local buckling. Furthermore, an increased concrete thickness improves both the load-bearing and hysteretic energy dissipation capacities of the walls. These findings offer valuable insights for the design and application of C-PSW/CE in seismic-resistant structures.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.