Response of low-quality solid concrete block infilled frames

Abstract

The characteristics of low-quality solid concrete block infills and their influence on the response of reinforced-concrete (RC) frames under lateral loading were investigated. To this end, the constituents of the masonry infill were investigated separately under compressive load as well as in the form of assemblages in order to evaluate the compressive strength, bond strength and coefficient of friction of the prisms. The diagonal tensile strength and shear strength of the masonry walls were then evaluated using masonry wallets. To investigate the influence of the infill on the lateral response of RC frames, quasi-static tests on three full-scale single-bay frames (one bare frame and two infilled frames with centre-to-centre dimensions of 2·480 m × 2·310 m) were performed. The obtained experimental data in the form of load–deformation curves clearly indicate that, even with the presence of low-quality infill panels, both the strength and stiffness of the RC frames were greatly enhanced. In addition, the presence of infill was found to significantly alter the deflected shape and internal forces in various elements of the infilled frames in comparison with bare counterparts.