Finite Element Micro-Modelling as a Proxy for Experimental Tests on Masonry-Infilled RC Frames

Abstract eng:
The use of macro-models, namely strut models, is known to be an efficient tool to represent the structural behaviour of infill walls under earthquakes. However, to obtain realistic results, the mechanical properties of these simplified models need to be calibrated and validated using experimental data. Due to the variability of the masonry infills types, configurations, construction technologies and materials across countries, as well as to the significant cost of experimental tests, the available experimental data do not cover all the possibilities and requirements. Therefore, alternative approaches need to be established to obtain adequate data to calibrate the referred simplified models. The proposed paper introduces a detailed finite element modelling approach that can be used as an alternative to experimental tests to represent the behaviour of masonry-infilled reinforced concrete (RC) frames, thus providing sufficient results to calibrate and validate the referred macro models. The paper addresses the relevant issues in the development of numerical models involving nonlinear finite elements using the commercial software ANSYS and provides details about the proposed strategy to enable its replication by other researchers. In order to validate the proposed numerical approach, several experimental specimens of masonryinfilled RC frames are analysed. These experimental specimens have different infill configurations (e.g. panels with solid infill and partially infilled panels) and were subjected to cyclic loading tests. The comparison between numerical and experimental results shows that the proposed numerical modelling approach is able to capture the overall nonlinear behaviour of the physical specimens with adequate accuracy. The developed micro-model is able to predict the strength and failure mechanisms of the physical specimens and the obtained data is then used to calibrate the structural parameters of a single strut model. The results show that the proposed micro-modelling approach can be used as a proxy for experimental data to calibrate simplified models used in performance analysis frameworks requiring a higher number of analyses.

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