Steel plate composite wall panel structures, such as for use in nuclear reactor buildings, and associated systems and methods

A panel structure, comprising:

• a first plate;
• a second plate spaced apart from and positioned parallel to the first plate;
• a plurality of upper joint plates extending between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the upper joint plates are spaced apart from and extend parallel to one another;
• a plurality of lower joint plates extending between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the upper joint plates are spaced apart from and extend parallel to one another;
• a column positioned between the first plate and the second plate;
• and
• a beam extending from the column between the upper joint plates and the lower joint plates parallel to the first plate and the second plate, wherein a lower portion of individual ones of the upper joint plates includes a first cutout shaped to receive and be fixedly attached to an upper portion of the beam, and wherein an upper portion of individual ones of the lower joint plates includes a first cutout shaped to receive and be fixedly attached to a lower portion of the beam.

A method of manufacturing a structure, the method comprising:

• providing—
• a lower structure assembly including—
• a first lower plate;
• a second lower plate spaced apart from and parallel to the first upper plate;
• and
• a plurality of lower joint plates extending between the first lower plate and the second lower plate and connecting the first lower plate to the second lower plate;
• at least one beam between the first lower plate and the second lower plate, wherein the at least one beam is positioned on and supported by the lower joint plates;
• and
• an upper structure assembly including—
• a first upper plate;
• a second upper plate spaced apart from and extending parallel to the first upper plate;
• and
• a plurality of upper joint plates extending between the first upper plate and the second upper plate and connecting the first upper plate to the second upper plate;
• coupling the upper structure assembly to the lower structure assembly such that the upper joint plates are positioned on and supported by the at least one beam, wherein individual ones of the upper joint plates include a cutout, and wherein coupling the upper structure assembly to the lower structure assembly includes positioning the at least one beam within the cutouts;
• connecting the first upper plate to the first lower plate;
• and
• connecting the second upper plate to the second lower plate.