FEM SIMULATION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL RESPONSE OF AAC MASONRY INFILLS IN RC FRAMES

Abstract eng:
Unreinforced masonry non-structural infills in RC structures are widely used in many countries. However, they are often designed with simplified methods which do not consider accurately their interaction with the structure. The limitation of their damage induced by earthquakes is of major interest for the prevention of extensive economic losses and possible threats to human lives. During the last decades several researches have been accomplished all around the world, and many different aspects have been investigated. The increasing interest on masonry infill is due to both the observation of unsatisfactory behaviour of infilled frame structures after real earthquakes and the difficulty to reach a widely scientifically recognized solution. Even if measures for the prevention of infill damage are to some extent included in modern seismic design code, an effective design procedure has not yet been achieved. The object of this study is to perform a numerical Finite Element Model simulation of a reinforced concrete frame specimen infilled with unreinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete masonry infill, in order to be able to study accurately the influence and the interaction of the non-structural wall to the reinforced concrete frame. A meso-modelling approach has been followed and the calibration has been performed according to the results of in-plane cyclic tests on single bay – single storey bare and infilled frames which have been carried out at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Pavia [1, 3]. In order to obtain the parameters of the infill material, the numerical simulation has been performed, in first instance, with reference to tests of mechanical characterization and to inplane cyclic tests on load-bearing AAC masonry, similar to the one used for the infill [2, 3]. The model has been validated via non-linear static analyses. Moreover, the change in moment and shear demands on the RC members of the frame due to the influence of the presence of the infill as respect to the bare frame condition has also been investigated.

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