DISCONTINUOUS DEFORMATION ANALYSIS FOR REINFORCED-CONCRETE FRAMES INFILLED WITH MASONRY WALLS

The structural behavior of reinforced concrete frame infilled with a m asonry wall is investigated by the method of discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA). An interface element is developed and it is incorpora ted into DDA to analyze the continuous and discontinuous behavior of t he masonry structure. The numerical results are compared with previous research and possess satisfactory agreement. Then the structural beha vior and stress distribution of a reinforced concrete frame infilled w ith a masonry wall subjected to a horizontal force are studied. In add ition, the justification of equivalent strut is assessed by the distri bution of principal stresses. The results show that the behavior of th e masonry structure is highly influenced by the failure of mortar. On the basis of the distribution of principal stress of the masonry wall in the reinforced concrete frame, the equivalent strut can be approxim ately substituted for the masonry wall without separation and opening. However, the application of equivalent strut to the masonry wall with separation and opening needs further study.