An experimental study of the seismic behavior of infilled RC frames with opening

Abstract

In fi ll walls are not generally taken into account in structural analysis due to their complex behavior at seismic actions. As it is known, they increase the sti ness as well as the lateral load capacity of the system. Sometimes, in ll walls may have window and door openings in their planes. In the present study, behavior of Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames with in ll walls, which have openings, is investigated under cyclic lateral loadings. Location and size of the openings in the in ll wall are selected as investigation parameters.Test specimens are constructed and experimentally analyzed. The in ll wall changes the behavior of the frames under cyclic lateral loads signi cantly. Location and size openings in the in ll wall are two main parameters that a ect the behavior of the in ll walls as well as the frame. The test results clearly show that the contribution of the in ll wall to the behavior of RC frame diminishes signi cantly when the opening ratio is larger than 9%.Therefore, the e ect of the opening in the in ll wall must be taken into account in thestructural modeling when the opening ratio is larger than 9%.