In-Plane Loading Tests and a Retrofitting Technique for Masonry Infill Panels in RC Frames with Eccentric Openings
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 11
Abstract
The use of masonry infills in reinforced concrete (RC)-framed structures implicates the strength of the frame and the seismic resistance of the building. The present study (1) experimentally investigated the behavior of masonry infill panels surrounded by RC frames with eccentric door openings, (2) proposed and evaluated a retrofitting method based on the experimental results, and (3) introduced an analytical masonry infill model that is currently used in seismic assessment for RC buildings in Taiwan. This study’s retrofitting method centers on improving the confinement at the opening edge only instead of reinforcing the panel itself. Compared with existing methods, this method entails a lower retrofitting cost because a smaller area needs to be retrofitted. In experiments, the method notably improved the lateral resistance, where retrofitting yielded a 68% and 120% increase in strength in the push and pull directions, respectively. The confinement provided by the retrofit elements (1) allowed the damage on the panel to develop gradually; and (2) maintained the integrity of the panel during the test. Consequently, the drift at maximum strength significantly increased, and the panel could provide higher residual strength after a peak in strength. Although the deformation capacity was not improved because the retrofitting method did not alter the behavior of the columns, retrofitting yielded better energy dissipation due to a higher residual strength. Furthermore, the analytical masonry infill model generally agreed with the experimental data, although the displacements where the maximum strength occurred were underestimated and overestimated in the specimens with and without retrofitting, respectively.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The research was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) through funding MOST 104-2221-E-006-221-MY2 and by the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE), Taiwan. The authors gratefully acknowledge the staff at the NCREE Laboratory for supporting the experiments.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 11 • November 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 10, 2021
Accepted: Jun 14, 2022
Published online: Sep 9, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Feb 9, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Concrete
- Concrete frames
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Construction methods
- Continuum mechanics
- Dynamic loads
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Frames
- Masonry
- Materials engineering
- Panels (structural)
- Rehabilitation
- Reinforced concrete
- Seismic loads
- Seismic tests
- Solid mechanics
- Structural behavior
- Structural dynamics
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural strength
- Structural systems
- Tests (by type)
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