Implementation and Verification of a Masonry Infill Model Considering the Out-Of-Plane Behaviour

Abstract

The response of reinforced concrete buildings to earthquake loads can be substantially affected by the influence of infill walls. Also the out-of-plane failure of the infill can cause heavy casualties. In this article, an improved numerical model for the simulation of the in-plane and out-of-plane behaviour of masonry infill is proposed. First, the proposed model is presented. This is an upgrading equivalent strut model composed of two beam-column type elements, with a node at the mid-span assigned a mass in the in-plane and the out-of-plane direction to account for the inertial forces in both directions. Second, the main results of the calibration analyses obtained with two experiments are presented and discussed.