Cyclic Response of Infilled Reinforced Concrete Frames with Partial-Isolated Walls

Abstract

This study examines the cyclic response of reinforced concrete moment-resisting frames with partially isolated walls through experiments and finite element analysis. The primary objective is to develop an enhanced joint between walls and frames to facilitate effective force transfer while minimizing interaction forces that could lead to column shear failure. The findings indicate that the proposed joint enhancement method results in an approximately 32% reduction in overall lateral load resistance compared to conventional masonry walls. However, it provides about 50% greater resistance than bare frames. Furthermore, the improved joint significantly reduces shear forces in columns caused by wall-frame interaction. Specifically, the maximum shear force in columns was 1.06 times that of bare frames, whereas conventional masonry walls resulted in maximum shear forces reaching 2.6 times that of bare frames. Given the observed reduction in overall structural lateral resistance, the developed joint enhancement method is better suited for improving the performance of buildings in regions with low to moderate seismic risk rather than in areas susceptible to high-intensity earthquakes.