• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.201-215
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• 1998

The structural behavior of reinforced concrete frame infilled with a masonry wall is investigated by the method of discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA). An interface element is developed and it is incorporated into DDA to analyze the continuous and discontinuous behavior of the masonry structure. The numerical results are compared with previous research and possess satisfactory agreement. Then the structural behavior and stress distribution of a reinforced concrete frame infilled with a masonry wall subjected to a horizontal force are studied. In addition, the justification of equivalent strut is assessed by the distribution of principal stresses. The results show that the behavior of the masonry structure is highly influenced by the failure of mortar. On the basis of the distribution of principal stress of the masonry wall in the reinforced concrete frame, the equivalent strut can be approximately substituted for the masonry wall without separation and opening. However, the application of equivalent strut to the masonry wall with separation and opening needs further study.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1435-1452
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• 2015

The performance of masonry infilled frames during the past earthquakes shows that the infill panels play a major role as earthquake-resistant elements. Experimental observations regarding the influence of infill panels on increasing stiffness and strength of reinforced concrete structures reveal that such panels can be used in order to strengthen reinforced concrete frames. The present study examines the influence of infill panels on seismic behavior of RC frame structures. For this purpose, several low- and mid-rise RC frames (two-, four-, seven-, and ten story) were numerically investigated. Reinforced masonry infill panels were then placed within the frames and the models were subjected to several nonlinear incremental static and dynamic analyses. In order to determine the acceptance criteria and modeling parameters for frames as well as reinforced masonry panels, the Iranian Guideline for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Masonry Buildings (Issue No. 376), the Iranian Guideline for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Structures (Issue No. 360) and FEMA Guidelines (FEMA 273 and 356) were used. The results of analyses showed that the use of reinforced masonry infill panels in RC frame structures can have beneficial effects on structural performance. It was confirmed that the use of masonry infill panels results in an increment in strength and stiffness of the framed buildings, followed by a reduction in displacement demand for the structural systems.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2016

For seismic retrofitting of masonry walls, the use of fibre reinforced cement-based mortar for bonding the fibre grids can eliminate some of the shortcomings related to the use of resin as bonding material. The results of an experimental testing program on masonry walls retrofitted with fibre reinforced mortar and fibre grids are presented in this paper. Seven squat masonry walls were tested under unidirectional lateral displacement reversals and constant axial load. Steel anchors were used to increase the effectiveness of the bond between the fibre grids and the masonry walls. Application of fibre grids on both lateral faces of the walls effectively improved the hysteretic behaviour and specimens could be loaded until slip occurred in the horizontal joint between the masonry and the bottom concrete stub. Application of the fibre grids on a single face did not effectively improve the hysteretic behaviour. Retrofitting with fibre reinforced mortar only prevented the early damage but did not effectively increase deformation capacity. When the boundaries of the cross sections were not properly confined, midplane splitting of the masonry walls occurred. Steel anchors embedded in the walls in the corners area effectively prevented this type of failure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.207-230
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• 2012

Full-scale shake table seismic experiments and low-amplitude vibration tests on a masonry building are carried out to assess its seismic performance as well as study the effectiveness of a new multifunctional textile material for retrofitting masonry structures against earthquakes. The un-reinforced and the retrofitted with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) strips masonry building was subjected to a series of earthquake excitations of increasing magnitude in order to progressively induce various small, moderate and severe levels of damage to the masonry walls. The performance of the original and retrofitted building states is evaluated. Changes in the dynamic characteristics (lowest four modal frequencies and damping ratios) of the building are used to assess and quantify the damage states of the masonry walls. For this, the dynamic modal characteristics of the structure states after each earthquake event were estimated by performing low-amplitude impulse hammer and sine-sweep forced vibration tests. Comparisons between the modal results calculated using traditional accelerometers and those using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors embedded in the reinforcing textile were carried on to investigate the reliability and accuracy of FBG sensors in tracking the dynamic behaviour of the building. The retrofitting actions restored the stiffness characteristics of the reinforced masonry structure to the levels of the original undamaged un-reinforced structure. The results show that despite a similar dynamic behavior identified, corresponding to reduction of the modal frequencies, the un-reinforced masonry building was severely damaged, while the reinforced masonry building was able to withstand, without visual damage, the induced strong seismic excitations. The applied GFRP reinforcement architecture for one storey buildings was experimentally proven reliable for the most severe earthquake accelerations. It was easily placed in a short time and it is a cost effective solution (covering only 20% of the external wall surfaces) when compared to the cost for full wall coverage by GFRPs.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2002

The masonry structure has been widely used as the dwelling house structure in our country for a long time. The masonry structure is weak in the lateral forces such as strong wind and earthquake. But there is no regulation for it in the domestic aseismic design codes. The purpose of this study is to suggest a simple design method of un-reinforced masonry wall.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.147-155
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• 2000

Five reinforced concrete rigid frame and masonry infilled wall and cut off type masonry infilled wall were tesed during vertical and cyclic loads simultaneously. Experimental programs were accomplished to improve and evaluate the structural performance of test specimens, such as the hysteretic behavior, the maximum horizontal strength, crack propagation, and ductility etc. Test variables are hoop reinforcement ratio, with or without masonry infilled wall, and masonry method. All the specimens were constructed in one-third scale size. Based on the test results, the following conclusions can be made. For masonry infilled wall(IFB-1), maximum horizontal capacity was increased by 1.45 time in comparision with that of rigid frame(FB-0). For cut off masonry infilled wall (IFBC-1~3), maximum horizontal capacity was increased by 1.73~1.98 time in comparision with that of rigid frame(FB-0). For cut off masonry infilled wall(IFBG-1~3), ductility was increased by 1.48~2.08 time in comparision with that of masonry infilled wall (IFB-1).

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.489-499
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• 2024

Infill masonry walls are vulnerable to lateral loads, including seismic, wind, and concentrated push loads. Various strengthening metal fittings have been proposed to improve lateral load resistance, particularly against seismic loads. This study introduces the use of post-compressed wedges as a novel reinforcement method for infill masonry walls to enhance lateral load resistance. The resistance of the infill masonry wall against lateral-concentrated push loads was assessed using an out-of-plane push-over test on specimens sized 2,300×2,410×190 mm³. The presence or absence of wedges and wedge spacing were set as variables. The push-over test results showed that both the unreinforced specimen and the specimen reinforced with 300 mm spaced wedges toppled, while the specimen reinforced with 100 mm spaced wedges remained upright. Peak loads were measured to be 0.74, 29.77, and 5.88 kN for unreinforced specimens and specimens reinforced with 100 mm and 300 mm spaced wedges, respectively. Notably, a tighter reinforcement spacing yielded a similar strength, as expected, which was attributed to the increased friction force between the masonry wall and steel frame. The W-series specimens exhibited a trend comparable to that of the displacement ductility ratio. Overall, the findings validate that post-compressed wedges improve the out-of-plane strength of infill masonry walls.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2001

Experimental programs were accomplished to improve and evaluate the structural performance of RC frame structures with masonry infilled wall, such as the hysteretic behavior, the maximum horizontal strength, crack propagation, and ductility etc. Test variables are restraining factors of frame, with or without masonry infilled wall, and masonry method. Six reinforced concrete rigid frame and masonry infilled wall were tested and constructed in one-third scale size under vertical and cyclic loads simultaneously. Based on the test results, the following conclusions can be made. For masonry infilled wall with restraining factors of frame(IFWB-1~3), cumulated energy dissipation capacities were increased by 1.35~1.60 times in comparision with that of masonry infilled wall(IFB-1) at final stage of testing. For masonry infilled wall with restraining factors of frame, maximum horizontal capacities were increased by 1.91~2.24 times in comparision with that of rigid frame.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

In this study, the in-plane and out-of-plane seismic performance of the masonry wall strengthened using the steel bar truss system proposed by Hwang et al. (2021a, 2021b) or using FRP sheets were compared and evaluated. The maximum strength of the masonry wall reinforced with FRP sheets for the in-plane and out-of-plane loading was 71% and 85%, respectively, of that of the non-reinforced masonry wall. Meanwhile, the maximum strength of the masonry wall reinforced with the steel bar truss system was approximately 1.8 times higher than that of the non-reinforced masonry wall. Compared with the FRP sheet method, the steel bar truss system was excellent at improving the maximum load capacity, rigidity, and energy dissipation capacity. However, in the case of a masonry wall reinforced with FRP sheets, the masonry wall was overstrengthened with the FRP sheets covering the entire masonry wall, and it is considered that the overstrengthened specimen experienced sliding failure, resulting in a lower strength than the other specimens. A follow-up study is needed to compare the seismic performance of the specimen involving only a part of the masonry wall reinforced with the FRP sheets and the specimen reinforced using the steel bar truss system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.479-494
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• 2012

This study explores a coefficient-based seismic capacity assessment method with a special emphasis on low-rise masonry in-filled (MI) reinforced concrete (RC) buildings subjected to earthquake motion. The coefficient-based method without requiring any complicated finite element analysis is a simplified procedure to assess the maximum spectral acceleration capacity of buildings. This paper first compares the fundamental periods of MI RC structures obtained, respectively, from experimental period data and empirical period-height formulas. The coefficient-based method for low-rise masonry buildings is then calibrated by the published experimental results obtained from shaking table tests. The comparison of the experimental and estimated results indicates that the simplified coefficient-based method can provide good approximations of the maximum spectral accelerations at peak loads of the low-rise masonry reinforced concrete buildings if a proper set of drift factors and initial fundamental vibration periods of structures are used.