Experimental and analytical work on the seismic performance of different types of masonry infilled reinforced concrete frames under cyclic loading

Structural frame buildings with masonry infilled walls make up a significant portion of the buildings so it is very important to understand the behavior of masonry especially under earthquake effect. This thesis presents an experimental work and analytical modeling of reinforced concrete frame infilled with different types of masonry clay bricks and subjected to slowly applied cyclic lateral loads.Two different types of clay bricks are considered in this study, in order to understand the effect of masonry wall on the whole system under lateral cyclic load. An OpenSees model of the frame is used to simulate the experimental work carried out in Dokuz Eylul University, Civil Engineering Department, Structural Mechanics and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory by using OpenSees.In this study two equivalent diagonal struts are developed in OpenSees to model infill masonry wall. The effects of number of bay and the effects of the soft storey mechanism studied with the calibrated analytical model. The results obtained from the experimental and analytical work show the significance of infill in increasing the strength and lateral stiffness of the entire system under lateral load, which is a faction of type of clay brick used.