Seismic response of reinforced concrete frame structures with infill walls

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures with infill walls, usually of unknown strength, are commonly used in developing countries. Current seismic codes used in these countries lack adequate consideration of the infill material and give wide options to the builders to choose a material without knowing its influence during earthquakes. This has resulted in poor seismic performance of these structures, usually with cracks appearing on the infill walls during moderate seismic action. To address this problem, this research treats the seismic response of RC frame structures with infill having a range of properties using Finite Element techniques. The parameters considered here are the Young’s modulus of the infill material, peak ground acceleration and percentage opening within the infill wall. Results show the influence of infill on the overall seismic performance of these structures and can be used for developing guidance for their seismic design.