Seismic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Sysmmetrical Frames With Different Arrangements of Infill Walls

Abstract

One of the major developments in seismic design over the past decade has increased because of the continuing desire to limit excessive damage and maintain function of the structure after a moderate earthquake. Masonry infill walls have many beneficial and disadvantageous effects on seismic performances of RC frames. This study aims to demonstrate that neglecting the effects of infill walls during the linear dynamic analysis of the RC frames may lead to the dramatic misunderstanding of the seismic performance of the structure. In this work, a frame was analysed with different arrangement of infill walls using response spectrum and time history method. For modelling of infill walls single strut model strategy was used. Results of this study revealed that changing the arrangement of infill walls may change the damage state of the building during an earthquake. With the immense loss of life and property witnessed in the last couple of decades alone in India, due to failure of structures caused by earthquakes, attention is now being given to the evaluation of the adequacy of strength in framed RC structures to resist strong ground motions.