Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete frames with brick masonry infills under lateral loads

This paper presents an experimental and analytical investigation on the response of reinforced cement concrete bare and non-integral brick masonry infilled frames under lateral reversed cyclic loads. Quarter scale three-storey models were tested under varying storey shears. A detailed analysis has been carried out by employing nonlinear finite element method to account for the following material nonlinearities - (a) cracking in reinforced concrete frame and brick infill, (b) yielding of concrete, infill and reinforcement, (c) slip, separation and recontact at the frame-infill interface, and (d) opening and closing of tracks in concrete and infill. The analysis has been carried out for both monotonic and cyclic loads. The infill-frame interaction is found to enhance the base shear capacity, improve the hysteretic behaviour and alter the failure mode of the bare frame.