Experimental quantification of seismic damage for RC infill walls using static and dynamic loading test

Abstract

In Taiwan, the reinforced concrete (RC) infill walls are often used for exterior and interior walls in general buildings. Due to the higher lateral stiffness and strength of the RC infill walls, it is necessary to understand the residual seismic capacity of RC infill walls damaged by an earthquake. To quantify the post-earthquake residual seismic capacity of RC infill wall members, experimental data for 6 wall specimens with shear failure are used to obtain the residual seismic capacity of damaged RC infill members for specified damage levels in this work. Different from the previous static loading test research, dynamic loading is also used to evaluate the residual seismic capacity of RC infill wall members. Besides the experiment data, the reduction factors of strength and stiffness for damaged RC infill wall members with and without horizontal interface slippage are also investigated, respectively. Finally, the modified method of the mechanical properties of RC infill walls corresponding to damage levels is proposed, and verified by using the strength development curve of the test data of damaged specimens. Restated, following the proposed seismic damage quantification method and mechanical properties of damaged RC infill walls, their residual seismic capacity can be considered in the pushover analysis.