Nonlinear static analysis of infilled RC frames: a novel simplified procedure

Abstract. Masonry walls are generally utilized in Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures, either as external infills or as internal partitions. Although the interaction between them and structural members significantly affects the seismic response of structures, infills are usually not included in the structural models and, hence, their mechanical contribution is neglected in seismic analysis and assessment of existing structures. However, additional strength provided by infills may either play a beneficial role or affect the resulting structural capacity. Although several proposals are currently available for simulating the nonlinear response of masonry infills in structural analysis, no well-established methods emerged so far for evaluating the global response of infilled RC frames. This paper proposes a simplified procedure based on Nonlinear Static (NLS) analysis and an extension of the well-known N2 Method. A statistical assessment and validation is also presented with the aim to confirm accuracy and reliability of the proposed analysis procedure.