COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF RC FRAME WITH AND WITHOUT BRICK INFILL USING APPLIED ELEMENT METHOD

Abstract

Construction practices in major part of rural as well as suburban areas in India uses brick masonry type of buildings; this may be due to easy availability of material, aesthetic appeal and cost effective. Such type of construction is also found in nearby areas like Nepal and Bangladesh. In India, these buildings are most commonly found in regions where good quality clay for brick production is abundantly available (World housing encyclopaedia report, 2003). In past studies it has been found that brick quality is comparatively better in north part of India than south, this is due to good quality of soil in north India. But, such type of buildings proved to be vulnerable during past history of earthquake. Though, past experimental and analytical studies stress upon understanding behaviour of brick masonry buildings, this numerical study has advantage over others that it can show initiation of crack, gradual propagation of cracks till the total collapse of building. In this parametric study, four cases have been considered and effect of considering infill and without infill on strength, stiffness and ductility of wall has been studied.