THE DYNAMIC AND EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE OF A TWO STORY OLD R/C BUILDING WITH MASONRY INFILLS IN LIXOURI-KEFALONIA, GREECE INCLUDING SOIL-FOUNDATION DEFORMABILITY.

Abstract eng:
The dynamic and earthquake behaviour of a two-story reinforced concrete(R/C) frame building with masonry infills located in Lixouri-Kefalonia-Greece is examined. This building was constructed according to old seismic code provisions and was subjected to intense earthquake ground motion during the recent 2014 earthquake activity in the island. Despite the intensity of the seismic action this structure developed light to moderate damage that is confined mainly to the masonry infills and to the spalling of the unconfined concrete cover of the columns. The numerical simulation includes influences arising from the masonry infulls that are within the R/C frames as well from the R/C foundation mat that is resting on relatively flexible soil. Use is made in the numerical simulation of the deformability of the foundation based on the results obtained from a specific investigation that dealt in measuring the dynamic characteristics of a bell tower located at a close distance from the examined building. The response of the masonry infills is also included employing a methodology that takes into account various non-linear mechanisms that develop during the infill-R/C frame interaction when this type of structural system is subjected to horizontal seismic forces. In addition, the possibility of the development of plastic hinges at predetermined locations of the reinforced concrete elements is also included in the numerical investigation. Through the study of the obtained numerical predictions an effort is made to understand the observed performance of this building. The obtained numerical predictions of its earthquake response demonstrate that the minimum observed structural damage in this case may be attributed to the favourable influence of the well built masonry infills as well as of the continuous foundation mat interaction with the flexible soil without adverse effects.

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