Shear Resistance of Reinforced Concrete infilled Frames
T.C. Nwofor

Abstract
Reinforced concrete frames are usually infilled by masonry walls, but in most designs, the shear strength response of these walls and also the contribution of the infill panel openings in the reduction of the shear strength of the infilled frame are ignored. In this work, two kinds of numerical models are used in order to validate the finite element micro-modeling method and the basic stiffness method for macro-modeling of infilled frames. Also full mechanical characterization of the brick-mortar units and masonry is also carried out through uniaxial compressive tests, where simple mechanical relationships at different confining stress levels are define with these mechanical properties serving as the basic input parameter for the finite element micro-modeling method used in this research and hence the shear response of infilled frames considering the effect of the sizes and position of openings studied. The macro-modeling technique which analyses an equivalent one-strut model used to replace the infill panel gave results which were validated against that of the micro-modeling procedure. From the foregoing both models will able to model the shear response of the frame up to a failure load. Finally the procedure for macro-modeling used in this work is not computationally tedious and gives quick results, hence is recommended for non-linear analysis of infilled frame structures.

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