Abstract:
Infill masonry walls are considered a secondary element of reinforced concrete
structures in many design conditions. In the Albanian design conditions and the
Eurocodes, they have been treated as non-structural elements during the design phases
of buildings. Neglecting the contribution of the stiffness of these walls can, in some
cases, lead to an unsaved project. Infill walls not only perform the dividing function
between the interior spaces of a building, but they also affect, in general, the behavior
of reinforced concrete structures under seismic loads.
This study evaluates the seismic performance of the building by considering the effects
of the infill walls. To investigate these effects, five different models of a 6-story
building were studied. The influence that these models have, with and without the
presence of the walls, has been analyzed. The walls were calculated and modeled as
diagonal strud elements according to Fema 356 formulas. The capacity curves of each
model were determined by Respons spectrum analysis done in two main directions
using the Etabs computer package. The seismic performance assessment was
performed in accordance with Eurocode 8, which is similar to the FEMA-356
guidelines. The final results are compared in graphical form for the shear force in
relation to the number of stories, the story displacements, story drift, and the stiffness
of the structure. In conclusion, after analyzing the results, the effects that these walls
have on the structure can be significantly noticed, especially in cases where the infill
walls are not considered.
