LAUSR

Abstract The design of more efficient and lightweight steel shear walls (SSW) has led to research in incorporation of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite in the infill plate of shear wall systems. As a result, understanding the behaviour of the connections between the hybrid steel/FRP infill plate and the fish plate of the surrounding frame elements has become necessary. In this paper, energy absorption and load carrying capacity of FRP-to-steel connections has been investigated to develop a more efficient hybrid steel/FRP shear wall system. Monotonic displacement controlled loading of bolted connections, representing the connections in steel and hybrid shear walls, were conducted to complete failure. The specimens had dimensions of 125 mm × 70 mm with varying factors some of which were using two and three bolts connections, applying additional GFRP strips, using adhesive between the steel plate and the internal layer of GFRP as well as applying adhesive between the clamping plate and the FRP around the bolted area. A detailed comparison between the specimens in aspects of energy absorption, load capacity and modes of failure is provided.