Fragility Functions for Steel Plate Shear Walls

Fragility functions are developed to predict the method of repair required for steel plate shear walls damaged due to earthquake loading. The results of previous experimental studies are used to develop empirical relationships between damage states and story drift. Damage states are proposed and linked deterministically with commonly employed methods of repair; these damage states are characterized by parameters such as yielding and tearing of the steel plate and yielding, buckling and fracture of frame members. Lognormal probability distributions are fit to the empirical data and evaluated using standard statistical methods. The results of this effort are families of fragility functions that predict the required method of repair for a damaged wall.