Modelling of infill walls in reinforced concrete buildings under low-amplitude vibrations

Abstract

A study was undertaken to analyse the capability of conventional finite-element (FE) models to represent the actual dynamic behaviour of masonry infill walls in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings under ambient conditions. Two commonly used modelling techniques were examined - shell elements and diagonal compression struts. An existing non-symmetrical, six-storey RC building was used as a reference structure. The dynamic characteristics of the real building were determined by an ambient vibration survey. Two FE models of the building were then constructed and the dynamic characteristics of the building were determined numerically. Comparisons of the experimentally obtained dynamic properties and those obtained using each numerical model revealed the most appropriate method for visualising the dynamic behaviour of RC buildings under low levels of vibration. The dynamic behaviour of RC buildings under earthquakes and the use of code-based period estimation formulas were then analysed. The results showed that each modelling technique affected the predicted dynamic frequencies substantially; choosing the most suitable model depends on the level of vibration.