Abstract
Whether used as a curtain/partition wall or a bearing part of the structure, masonry infill significantly affects structural behaviour of the primary structure. Two different types of masonry units (‘strong’ and ‘weak’), often used in Croatia as infill of steel frames, are initially considered in the paper. Based on experimental results obtained by testing behaviour of these two types of masonry units, a third type of infill is proposed, which is a specific combination of the initial two types, and enables realisation of controlled behaviour of masonry-infilled steel frames.
Highlights
Masonry products made of clay, lightweight concrete or similar types of aggregate are among the materials most commonly used in building construction due to their availability, acceptable cost, generally good physical properties, and easy production and installation
Three different situations are possible and recognized by current codes [2]: infill panel is positively connected to steel frame elements, infill panel is structurally disconnected from steel frame elements, and infill panel is in contact with steel frame elements but is not positively connected to them
Despite many research reports and published papers, structural behaviour of a new structure created by adding a masonry panel to a steel or concrete frame is hard to define in a straightforward manner
Summary
Masonry products made of clay, lightweight concrete or similar types of aggregate are among the materials most commonly used in building construction due to their availability, acceptable cost, generally good physical properties, and easy production and installation These products can be used as load-bearing elements or as an infill to/in main structural elements, such as steel or concrete frames. Structural behaviour is even more affected by the masonry while its main properties remain the same – it is generally fragile, prone to sudden cracking, shattering and spalling, which can cause lifethreatening situations. This is the reason why frames infilled with masonry are generally regarded as "earthquake risk" structural systems. That solution partly includes favourable effects of both mentioned approaches (strengthening the masonry infill and limiting the frame–infill interaction): an increased stiffness, strength and dissipation capacity of the infilled frame system and, at the same time, preservation of ductile behaviour of the bare steel frame
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