Numerical homogenization-based seismic assessment of an English-bond masonry prototype: Structural level application

A multiscale strategy is evaluated at a structural level for the analysis of unreinforced masonry structures. The mechanical characterization of the masonry is deduced from homogenization-based micro-scale finite element (FE) models. The derived data are here employed at a structural level via a discrete FE model. The discrete FE model is composed of quadrilateral rigid plates interconnected through vertical and horizontal interfaces. On the interfaces, between adjoining discrete elements, a model that accounts for the in- and out-of-plane behavior of masonry, with damage and plasticity, is adopted. Such interfaces represent the material pre- and post-peak regimes, its orthotropy, and, depending on the micro-model assumed, account by three-dimensional shear effects that are especially important for multi-leaf walls and complex regular textures. The discrete model has been implemented in an advanced structural analysis software where powerful built-in features as the arc-length method, line-search algorithm, and implicit or explicit solver schemes are available. The multi-scale model is applied for the dynamic study of a small English-bond masonry house prototype subjected to a series of consecutive earthquake records. Detailed comparisons between the experimental and numerical data are presented, including the results obtained through a continuous total strain rotating crack model. Quasi-static and dynamic analyses are conducted. Results demonstrate that when enough experimental information is available on the masonry components under tension, shear, and compression regimes, the approach predicts well the seismic structural response in terms of time-history displacements, seismic capacity, and damage patterns. The required computational cost (CPU time) is very attractive.     

A hybrid method for the vulnerability assessment of R/C and URM buildings

The methodology followed by the Aristotle University (AUTh) team for the vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete (R/C) and unreinforced masonry (URM) structures is presented. The paper focuses on the derivation of vulnerability (fragility) curves in terms of peak ground acceleration (PGA), as well as spectral displacement (s _d), and also includes the estimation of capacity curves, for several R/C and URM building types. The vulnerability assessment methodology is based on the hybrid approach developed at AUTh, which combines statistical data with appropriately processed (utilising repair cost models) results from nonlinear dynamic or static analyses, that permit extrapolation of statistical data to PGA’s and/or spectral displacements for which no data are available. The statistical data used herein are from earthquake-damaged greek buildings. An extensive numerical study is carried out, wherein a large number of building types (representing most of the common typologies in S. Europe) are modelled and analysed. Vulnerability curves for several damage states are then derived using the aforementioned hybrid approach. These curves are subsequently used in combination with the mean spectrum of the Microzonation study of Thessaloniki as the basis for the derivation of new vulnerability curves involving spectral quantities. Pushover curves are derived for all building types, then reduced to standard capacity curves, and can easily be used together with the S _d fragility curves as an alternative for developing seismic risk scenarios.     

Empirical‐based out‐of‐plane URM infill wall model accounting for the interaction with in‐plane demand

The role of masonry infills in the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete buildings has been widely studied in terms of their strength and stiffness contribution in the in‐plane (IP) direction, while fewer studies have been carried out on their response and modeling in the out‐of‐plane (OOP) direction. In this paper, the state of the art in code and literature provisions regarding infills' OOP capacity and seismic demand is presented, together with a review of the experimental tests that have been carried out to investigate infills' OOP behavior and the effects of IP‐OOP interaction. This review aims to collect an experimental database that is used to evaluate the effectiveness of literature and code provisions and to propose a semiempirical approach both for predicting infills' OOP strength, stiffness, and displacement capacity and for modeling the effects of IP displacement demand on OOP behavior and vice versa. Then, the state of the art on modeling of infills' OOP behavior and IP‐OOP interaction is presented together with a new macro model based on the proposed formulations and conceived to represent the IP and OOP behavior by taking into account the mutual interaction effects. Finally, the proposed model is used for an example application on two case‐study buildings, showing the effects of taking into account or neglecting the IP‐OOP interaction phenomena.     

Seismic vulnerability of roof systems combining URM gable walls and timber diaphragms

Typical low-rise masonry buildings consist of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls covered with various timber roof configurations generally supported or finished by masonry gables. Post-earthquake observations and experimental outcomes highlighted the large vulnerability of the URM gables to the development of overturning mechanisms, both because of the inertial out-of-plane excitation and the in-plane timber diaphragm deformability. This paper presents the static and dynamic experimental seismic performance of three full-scale roofs tested via quasi-static cyclic and shake table tests. Two of them were tested as part of a whole full scale one-storey and two-storey building. A single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) numerical model is calibrated against experimental data and proposed for the analysis of this roof typology's dynamic behaviour. Several sets of analyses were conducted to assess the vulnerability of these structural components and to study the effect of the whole building's characteristics (eg, number of storeys and structural stiffness and strength) on the seismic performance of this roof typology.     

Modelling rocking response via equivalent viscous damping

The assessment of the out-of-plane response of masonry structures has been largely investigated in literature assuming that walls respond as rigid or semi-rigid bodies, and relevant equations of motion of single-degree-of-freedom and multi-degree of freedom systems have been proposed. Therein, energy dissipation has been usually modelled resorting to the classical hypotheses of impulsive dynamics, delivering a velocity-reduction coefficient of restitution applied at impact. In fewer works, a velocity-proportional damping force has been introduced, by means of a viscous coefficient being constant or variable. A review of such models is presented, a criterion for equivalence of dissipated energy is proposed, equations predicting equivalent viscous damping ratios are derived and compared with experimental responses. Finally, predictive equations are examined in terms of incremental dynamic analyses for large sets of natural ground motions.     

Shake‐table experiment on reinforced concrete structure containing masonry infill wall

A hypothetical 5‐storey prototype structure with reinforced concrete (RC) frame and unreinforced masonry (URM) wall is considered. The paper focuses on a shake‐table experiment conducted on a substructure of this prototype consisting of the middle bays of its first storey. A test structure is constructed to represent the selected substructure and the relationship between demand parameters of the test structure and those of the prototype structure is established using computational modelling. The dynamic properties of the test structure are determined using a number of preliminary tests before performing the shake‐table experiments. Based on these tests and results obtained from computational modelling of the test structure, the test ground motions and the sequence of shakings are determined. The results of the shake‐table tests in terms of the global and local responses and the effects of the URM infill wall on the structural behaviour and the dynamic properties of the RC test structure are presented. Finally, the test results are compared to analytical ones obtained from further computational modelling of the test structure subjected to the measured shake‐table accelerations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of vertical irregularity and thickness of unreinforced masonry infill on the robustness of RC framed buildings

Presence of irregularities in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings increases seismic vulnerability. During severe seismic shaking, such buildings may suffer disproportionate damage or even collapse that can be minimized by increasing robustness. Robustness is a desirable property of structural systems that can mitigate susceptible buildings to disproportionate collapse. In this paper, the effects of vertical irregularity and thickness of unreinforced masonry infill on the robustness of a six‐story three‐bay RC frame are quantified. Nonlinear static analysis of the frame is performed, and parametric study is undertaken by considering two parameters: absence of masonry infill at different floors (i.e., vertical irregularities) and infill thickness. Robustness has been quantified in terms of stiffness, base shear, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity of the frame. It was observed that the infill thickness and vertical irregularity have significant influence on the response of RC frame. The response surface method is used to develop a predictive equation for robustness as a function of the two parameters. The predictive equation is validated further using 12 randomly selected computer simulations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of URM infills on seismic vulnerability of Indian code designed RC frame buildings

Unreinforced Masonry(URM) is the most common partitioning material in framed buildings in India and many other countries.Although it is well-known that under lateral loading the behavior and modes of failure of the frame buildings change significantly due to infill-frame interaction,the general design practice is to treat infills as nonstructural elements and their stiffness,strength and interaction with the frame is often ignored,primarily because of difficulties in simulation and lack of modeling guidelines in design codes.The Indian Standard,like many other national codes,does not provide explicit insight into the anticipated performance and associated vulnerability of infilled frames.This paper presents an analytical study on the seismic performance and fragility analysis of Indian code-designed RC frame buildings with and without URM infills.Infills are modeled as diagonal struts as per ASCE 41 guidelines and various modes of failure are considered.HAZUS methodology along with nonlinear static analysis is used to compare the seismic vulnerability of bare and infilled frames.The comparative study suggests that URM infills result in a significant increase in the seismic vulnerability of RC frames and their effect needs to be properly incorporated in design codes.