The Influence of Vertical Arrangement and Masonry Material of Infill Walls on the Seismic Performance of RC Frames

Abstract

This study presents a finite element (FE) model, the accuracy of which is verified by the comparison between the numerical and test results. The calibrated model is used to investigate the influence of vertical arrangement and masonry material of infill walls on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frames through pushover analysis and time–history analysis. The lateral capacity, interstorey drift ratio, and plastic hinge distribution of structures is discussed. It was found that the damage of frames with irregular vertical infill arrangement is more serious than that of bare frames, which should be limited in the seismic design process. Moreover, the disadvantages induced by the elastic modulus of masonry material should be considered in the seismic design and assessment of the frames with vertical irregularly arranged infill.