Numerical Analyses on stiffened bracing type pure aluminium shear panels (BTPASPs)

The current paper deals with a detailed numerical study carried out on pure aluminium shear panels implemented through a FEM model calibrated on the basis of test results. The comparison between experimental and numerical data, in terms of dissipative capability, maximum hardening ratio, secant shear stiffness and equivalent viscous damping factor, has shown that the proposed model is reliable enough to well interpret the actual behaviour of the specimen, which exhibits many buckling phenomena and large plastic deformations. Also, it has been observed that the deformed shapes of the specimens evidenced by the experimental tests are correctly reproduced by the numerical model in a wide deformation range. Finally, the proposed model has been profitably used to detect the exact displacement levels corresponding to the activation of the main buckling phenomena, as well as the stresses acting on the boundary bolted connections, which may result the week point of the system.