Three-Dimensional Seismic Analysis of Masonry Combined Systems

Abstract eng:
Recent numerical analyses on some types of planar Masonry Combined Systems (MCSs) showed a great variability of the lateral stiffness along the height, following to the mutual interaction between different parallel structural elements. This may induce significant eccentricities between centre of mass and centre of rigidity, in addition to the ones potentially due to U-shaped walls placed at the perimeter of the building or to irregular in-plan frame-wall dual systems. The mixed structure of the building becomes dramatically prone to damage due to twist-induced displacements, so a 3D seismic analysis is required to account for its torsional response. In this paper a matrix algorithm for seismic analysis of structural systems formed by masonry or Reinforced Concrete (RC) shear walls (with or without openings), frames and structural cores, is proposed. Such lateral load-resisting elements are considered to be arbitrarily arranged in plan and subjected to a generic pattern of horizontal forces. The torsional stiffness matrix of the cores is built up by means of the non-uniform torsion theory and the stiffness matrix of the whole mixed structure is subsequently defined. The presented analytical formulation provides a good prediction of the seismic behaviour of torsionally eccentric buildings with MCSs, and allow to evaluate strength and displacement demands.

• Export as: BibTeX | MARC | MARCXML | DC | EndNote | NLM | RefWorks
• Add to your basket