• Coupled systems mechanics
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.169-184
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• 2019

This research work presents a study that aims to assess the dynamic structural behaviour and also investigate the human comfort levels of a reinforced concrete building, when subjected to nondeterministic wind dynamic loadings, considering the effect of masonry infills on the global stiffness of the structural model. In general, the masonry fills most of the empty areas within the structural frames of the buildings. Although these masonry infills present structural stiffness, the common practice of engineers is to adopt them as static loads, disregarding the effect of the masonry infills on the global stiffness of the structural system. This way, in this study a numerical model based on sixteen-storey reinforced concrete building with 48 m high and dimensions of $14.20m{\times}15m$ was analysed. This way, static, modal and dynamic analyses were carried out in order to simulate the structural model based on two different strategies: no masonry infills and masonry infills simulated by shell finite elements. In this investigation, the wind action is considered as a nondeterministic process with unstable properties and also random characteristics. The fluctuating parcel of the wind is decomposed into a finite number of harmonic functions proportional to the structure resonant frequency with phase angles randomly determined. The nondeterministic dynamic analysis clearly demonstrates the relevance of a more realistic numerical modelling of the masonry infills, due to the modifications on the global structural stiffness of the building. The maximum displacements and peak accelerations values were reduced when the effect of the masonry infills (structural stiffness) were considered in the dynamic analysis. Finally, it can be concluded that the human comfort evaluation of the sixteen-storey reinforced concrete building can be altered in a favourable way to design.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.387-399
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• 2022

To study the seismic damage of masonry structures and understand the characteristics of the multi-intensity region, according to the Dujiang weir urbanization of China Wenchuan earthquake, the deterioration of 3991 masonry structures was summarized and statistically analysed. First, the seismic damage of multistory masonry structures in this area was investigated. The primary seismic damage of components was as follows: Damage of walls, openings, joints of longitudinal and transverse walls, windows (lower) walls, and tie columns. Many masonry structures with seismic designs were basically intact. Second, according to the main factors of construction, seismic intensity code levels survey, and influence on the seismic capacity, a vulnerability matrix calculation model was proposed to establish a vulnerability prediction matrix, and a comparative analysis was made based on the empirical seismic damage investigation matrix. The vulnerability prediction matrix was established using the proposed vulnerability matrix calculation model. The fitting relationship between the vulnerability prediction matrix and the actual seismic damage investigation matrix was compared and analysed. The relationship curves of the mean damage index for macrointensity and ground motion parameters were drawn through calculation and analysis, respectively. The numerical analysis was performed based on actual ground motion observation records, and fitting models of PGA, PGV, and MSDI were proposed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.423-437
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• 2009

In order to perform a step-by-step force-displacement response analysis or dynamic time-history analysis of large buildings with masonry infilled R/C frames, a continuous force-deformation model based on an equivalent strut approach is proposed for masonry infill panels containing openings. The model, which is applicable for degrading elements, can be implemented to replicate a wide range of monotonic force-displacement behaviour, resulting from different design and geometry, by varying the control parameters of the model. The control parameters of the proposed continuous model are determined using experimental data. The experimental program includes fifteen 1/3-scale, single-story, single-bay reinforced concrete frame specimens subjected to lateral cyclic loading. The parameters investigated include the shape, the size, the location of the opening and the infill compressive strength. The actual properties of the infill and henceforth the characteristics needed for the diagonal strut model are based on the assessment of its lateral resistance by the subtraction of the response of the bare frame from the response of the infilled frame.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제70권4호
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• pp.421-429
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• 2019

This paper presents an analytical model for the estimation of initial lateral stiffness of steel moment resisting frames with masonry infills. However, rather than focusing on the single bay-single storey substructure, the developed model attempts to estimate the global stiffness of multi-storey and multi-bay frames, using an assembly of equivalent springs and taking into account the shape of the lateral loading pattern. The contribution from each infilled frame panel is included as an individual spring, whose properties are determined on the basis of established diagonal strut macro-modeling approaches from the literature. The proposed model is evaluated parametrically against numerical results from frame analyses, with varying number of frame stories, infill openings, masonry thickness and modulus of elasticity. The performance of the model is evaluated and found quite satisfactory.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.241-264
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• 2013

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the progressive and rapid spread of reinforced concrete (RC) has led to the adoption of mixed masonry-RC solutions, such as the confined masonry. However, together with structures conceived with a definite role for earthquake behaviour, the spreading of RC technology has caused the birth of mixed solutions inspired more by functional aspects than by structural ones, such as: internal masonry walls replaced by RC frames, RC walls inserted to build staircases or raising made from RC frames. Usually, since these interventions rise from a spontaneous build-up, any capacity design or ductility concepts are neglected being designed only to bear vertical loads: thus, the vulnerability assessment of this class becomes crucial. To investigate the non-linear seismic response of these structures, suitable models and effective numerical tools are needed. Among the various modelling approaches proposed in the literature and codes, the authors focus their attention on the equivalent frame model. After a brief description of the adopted model and its numerical validation, the authors aim to point out some specific peculiarities of the seismic response of mixed masonry-RC structures and their repercussions on safety verification procedures (referring in particular way to the non-linear static ones). In particular, the results of non-linear static analyses performed parametrically to various configurations representative of different interventions are discussed.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.153-164
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• 1999

The objective of this research is to observe the actual response of a low-rise nonseismic moment-resisting masonry-infilled reinforced concrete frame subjected to varied levels of earthquake ground motions. The reduction scale for the model was determined as 1 : 5 considering the capacity of the shaking table to be used. This model was, then, subjected to the shaking table motions simulating Taft N2IE component earthquake ground motion, whose peak ground acceleration(PGA) was modified to 0.12g, 0.2g, 0.3g, and 0.4g. The g1oba1 behavior and failure mode were observed. The lateral accelerations and displacements at each story and local deformations at the critical portions of the structure were measured. Before and after each earthquake simulation test, free vibration tests and white noise tests were performed to find the changes in the natural period of the model. When the results of the masonry-infilled frame are compared with those of the bare frame, it can be recognized that masonry infills contribute to the large increase in the stiffness and strength of the g1oba1 structure whereas it also accompanies the increase of earthquake inertia forces. However, it is judged that masonry infills may be beneficial to the performance of the structure since the rate of increase in strength appears to be greater than that of the induced earthquake inertia forces.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.13-21
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• 2022

Masonry constructions exhibit uncertain behaviors under dynamic effects such as seismic action. Complex issues arise in the idealization of structural systems of buildings having different material types and mechanical properties. In this study, the structural behavior of a vaulted masonry building constructed using full clay brick and lime-based mortar and sitting on consecutive arches was investigated by experimental and numerical approaches. The dimensions of the structure built in the laboratory were 391 × 196 cm, and its height was 234 cm. An incremental repetitive loading was applied to the prototype construction model. Along the gradually increasing loading pattern, the load-displacement curves of the masonry structure were obtained with the assistance of eight linear displacement transducers. In addition, crack formation areas, and relevant causes of its formation were determined. The experimental model was idealized using the finite element method, and numerical analyses were performed for the area considered as linear being under similar loading effect. From the linear analyses, the displacement values and stress distribution of the numerical model were obtained. In addition, the effects of tie members, frequently being used in the supports of curved load-bearing elements, on the structural behavior were examined. Consequently, the experimental and numerical analysis results were comparatively evaluated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제6권7호
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• pp.801-815
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• 1998

An overview of an analytical model to predict mortar joint failure in unreinforced masonry (URM) structures is presented. The validity of the model is established by comparison with experimental results at element level as well as structure level. This model is then used to study the behavior of URM walls and two commonly used retrofitting schemes. Finally, effectiveness of the two retrofitting schemes in increasing strength and stiffness of existing URM walls is discussed.

• 한국지진공학회논문집
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.79-87
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• 2014

Masonry-infilled walls have been used in reinforced concrete(RC) frame structures as interior and exterior partition walls. Since these walls are considered as nonstructural elements, they were only considered as additional mass. However, infill walls tend to interact with the structure's overall strength, rigidity, and energy dissipation. Infill walls have been analyzed by finite element method or transposed as equivalent strut model. The equivalent strut model is a typical method to evaluate masonry-infilled structure to avoid the burden of complex finite element model. This study compares different strut models to identify their properties and applicability with regard to the characteristics of the structure and various material models.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.213-229
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• 2013

Although performance based assessment procedures are mainly developed for reinforced concrete and steel buildings, URM (Unreinforced Masonry) buildings occupy significant portion of buildings in earthquake prone areas of the world as well as in IRAN. Variability of material properties, non-engineered nature of the construction and difficulties in structural analysis of masonry walls make analysis of URM buildings challenging. Despite sophisticated finite element models satisfy the modeling requirements, extensive experimental data for definition of material behavior and high computational resources are needed. Recently, nonlinear equivalent frame models which are developed assigning lumped plastic hinges to isotropic and homogenous equivalent frame elements are used for nonlinear modeling of URM buildings. The equivalent frame models are not novel for the analysis of masonry structures, but the actual potentialities have not yet been completely studied, particularly for non-linear applications. In the present paper an effective tool for the non-linear static analysis of 2D masonry walls is presented. The work presented in this study is about performance assessment of unreinforced brick masonry buildings through nonlinear equivalent frame modeling technique. Reliability of the proposed models is tested with a reversed cyclic experiment conducted on a full scale, two-story URM building at the University of Pavia. The pushover curves were found to provide good agreement with the experimental backbone curves. Furthermore, the results of analysis show that EFM (Equivalent Frame Model) with Dolce RO (rigid offset zone) and shell element have good agreement with finite element software and experimental results.