Numerical analysis of a reinforced concrete frame with masonry infill under seismic loading

Abstract

The paper is mainly focused on the investigation of the seismic response of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills. Numerical results obtained with a strut model built in ETABS 2016 software are compared with the experimental results obtained on a full-size model. Tests were conducted in 2018, at the Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, on a reinforced concrete frame with masonry infills and on a bare reinforced concrete frame under compressive and shear loading. A static pushover analysis method was selected, and results were fairly compatible, even though some differences in the initial stiffness, as well as in the post yielding stage, were observed between numerical and experimental results. The model is presented, proposing a simple engineering method to be used in calculations.

Keywords

• seismic response
• masonry infills
• cyclic loading
• reinforced concrete structures