Strengthening of non-ductile masonry infilled rc frames by means of steel strips

Major part of Turkey?s existing building stock consists of non-ductile brick infilled reinforced concrete frames. This kind of structures does not have sufficient capacity in order to withstand the strong earthquakes. The most popular strengthening method for such buildings in order to satisfy adequate lateral stiffness, strength and energy demands reinforced concrete infill walls are introduced in the bare frames. However, this seismic rehabilitation method requires evacuation of the building. In this study, infill walls are strengthened with steel strips in order to support non-ductile brick infilled reinforced concrete frames. In order to improve the seismic performance of the structure while avoiding long term evacuation and changing architectural partitions. In experiments, single-storey single-span reinforced concrete frames are tested. As one of the unstrengthened test specimen been tested as a reference member total of nine test specimens were tested. Tests are done under reverse cyclic lateral load which simulates the earthquake loads. The frames had common defects similar to the Turkish building stock. Such as poor concrete quality, improper reinforcement layout and inadequate sections. Steel strips to the reinforced concrete frame connection, strengthening layout and symmetry aspects effecting the test frames? experimental lateral load capacity, initial stiffness, and energy absorption are investigated. According to the test results, strengthened brick infilled reinforced concrete frames gained lateral load carrying capacity, rigidity and significant energy consumption. In the analytical part for the study for the strengthening method proposed, some practical suggestions were made and a reliable way of modeling the strengthened structure was introduced.