Abstract
Reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings with masonry infills represent one of the most common structural typologies worldwide. Although, in the past, masonry infills were frequently considered as non-structural elements and their interaction with the structure was neglected, earthquakes occurring over the last decades have demonstrated the important role of these elements in the seismic response of all RC-infilled building typologies. In this regard, the selection of the most suitable numerical modelling approaches to reproduce the hysteretic response of the masonry infills—and their interaction with the RC frames—is still an open issue. To deal with this issue, in this study, a macro-classification based on different available databases of experimental tests on infilled RC frames, is firstly proposed to understand the variability in the infill properties and the corresponding numerical modelling uncertainties. Five masonry infill types are selected as representative for the typical existing configurations in Italy and other Mediterranean countries. Three of those masonry infill types are then selected to carry out a more detailed analysis, namely their numerical modelling validation using experimental testing results, considering and comparing the main formulations available in the literature for the definition of the hysteretic behaviour of infills. From such a comparison, the model that minimizes the prediction error, according to specific features of the selected masonry infill, is identified for each masonry infill type.
Highlights
A relevant portion of the existing buildings in Italy and other Mediterranean countries is constituted by reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with masonry infills, not designed according to modern seismic codes
Since the selected experimentally tested specimens were designed according to Eurocode 2 [59] and Eurocode 8 [50], the experimental test presented in Verderame et al [7] was selected to prove the reliability of the numerical modelling approach in case of RC frames designed for gravity loads according to Italian building code provisions in force during the 1970s–1990s
The numerical modelling validations were carried out using the finite element (FE) software OpenSees [60]
Summary
A relevant portion of the existing buildings in Italy and other Mediterranean countries is constituted by reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with masonry infills, not designed according to modern seismic codes. Earthquakes that occurred over the last decades and post-earthquake survey damage assessment reports [1] showed the relevant role played by masonry infills in the global and local building response. Extensive damage and collapse of masonry infills led to significant economic and human losses, which are often worsened by the fact that poor seismic detailing may frequently be found in existing RC buildings. About 80% of the earthquake-related losses in this type of buildings are the consequence of damage to the masonry infills [2]. The frame-infill interaction should not be neglected, given that the masonry
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