Experimental behaviour on seven storeyed infilled frame with pneumatic interface pressure

Abstract

Abstract High rise buildings have now become order of the day in developed and developing countries. Population explosion, fast urbanization etc., and to take over the available land space, to meet this challenge high rise buildings are constructed more. But high rise buildings have to be designed not only for heavy vertical loads but also for considerable lateral forces. In this study the analytical investigation on seven storeyed prototype frames has suggested that the lowering the lateral stiffness of the entire infilled frame is possible by just altering the interface pressure in all seven storeys (10psi to 30psi). Further the cement mortar interface at first storey alone needs to be replaced with pneumatic interface in order to minimize lateral stiffness of entire frame. The experimental investigations, on the seven storeyed frame models have shown that the increase in interface pressure increases the lateral stiffness of the infilled frame. The cracking pattern of the infilled frame with interface pressure resembles that of a bare frame like mainly having cracks in the frame members. The masonry was found to be least affected. This indicates that the infill participation is very much reduced.