In most design codes, infill walls are considered as non-structural elements and thus are typically neglected in the design process. The observations made after major earthquakes (Duzce 1999, L’Aquila 2009, Christchurch 2011) have shown that even though infill walls are considered to be non-structural elements, they interact with the structural system during seismic actions. In the case of heavy infill walls (i.e. clay brick infill walls), the whole behaviour of the structure may be affected by this interaction (i.e. local or global structural failures such as soft storey mechanism). In the case of light infill walls (i.e. non-structural drywalls), this may cause significant economical losses. To consider the interaction of the structural system with the ‘non-structural ’infill walls at design stage may not be a practical approach due to the complexity of the infill wall behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of the reported research is to develop innovative technological solutions and design recommendations for low damage non-structural wall systems for seismic actions by making use of alternative approaches. Light (steel/timber framed drywalls) and heavy (unreinforced clay brick) non-structural infill wall systems were studied by following an experimental/numerical research programme. Quasi-static reverse cyclic tests were carried out by utilizing a specially designed full scale reinforced concrete frame, which can be used as a re-usable bare frame. In this frame, two RC beams and two RC columns were connected by two un-bonded post tensioning bars, emulating a jointed ductile frame system (PRESSS technology). Due to the rocking behaviour at the beam-column joint interfaces, this frame was typically a low damage structural solution, with the post-tensioning guaranteeing a linear elastic behaviour. Therefore, this frame could be repeatedly used in all of the tests carried out by changing only the infill walls within this frame. Due to the linear elastic behaviour of this structural bare frame, it was possible to extract the exact behaviour of the infill walls from the global results. In other words, the only parameter that affected the global results was given by the infill walls. For the test specimens, the existing practice of construction (as built) for both light and heavy non-structural walls was implemented. In the light of the observations taken during these tests, modified low damage construction practices were proposed and tested. In total, seven tests were carried out: 1) Bare frame , in order to confirm its linear elastic behaviour. 2) As built steel framed drywall specimen FIF1-STFD (Light) 3) As built timber framed drywall specimen FIF2-TBFD (Light) 4) As built unreinforced clay brick infill wall specimen FIF3-UCBI (Heavy) 5) Low damage steel framed drywall specimen MIF1-STFD (Light) 6) Low damage timber framed drywall specimen MIF2-TBFD (Light) 7) Low damage unreinforced clay brick infill wall specimen MIF5-UCBI (Heavy) The tests of the as built practices showed that both drywalls and unreinforced clay brick infill walls have a low serviceability inter-storey drift limit (0.2-0.3%). Based on the observations, simple modifications and details were proposed for the low damage specimens. The details proved to be working effectively in lowering the damage and increasing the serviceability drift limits. For drywalls, the proposed low damage solutions do not introduce additional cost, material or labour and they are easily applicable in real buildings. For unreinforced clay brick infill walls, a light steel sub-frame system was suggested that divides the infill panel zone into smaller individual panels, which requires additional labour and some cost. However, both systems can be engineered for seismic actions and their behaviour can be controlled by implementing the proposed details. The performance of the developed details were also confirmed by the numerical case study analyses carried out using Ruaumoko 2D on a reinforced concrete building model designed according to the NZ codes/standards. The results have confirmed that the implementation of the proposed low damage solutions is expected to significantly reduce the non-structural infill wall damage throughout a building.

In Turkey, in most of the reinforced concrete buildings, hallow masonry infill walls are used as a non-structural element, during design stage, their contribution to overall building behavior is not well known. Observations made after the earthquakes revealed that these non-structural elements had beneficial effects on the lateral capacity of the building. In this study, the contribution of the hallow masonry infill walls to the lateral behavior of reinforced concrete buildings was investigated. For this purpose, two different buildings were chosen as case studies. Three and six story symmetric buildings are modeled as bare and infilled frames. The parameters that were investigated are column area, infill wall area, distribution of masonry infill walls throughout the story. To determine the effect of each parameter, global drift ratios are computed and are compared for each case.

Submitted by Wallison Medeiros (wamedeiros@hotmail.com) on 2019-01-22T10:58:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Medeiros_WA.pdf: 11036463 bytes, checksum: 842aff888e052eb4d2fc0aa7a42f3484 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Lucas Paganine (lucaspaganine@ibict.br) on 2019-02-05T16:59:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Medeiros_WA.pdf: 11036463 bytes, checksum: 842aff888e052eb4d2fc0aa7a42f3484 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-05T16:59:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Medeiros_WA.pdf: 11036463 bytes, checksum: 842aff888e052eb4d2fc0aa7a42f3484 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018 / This research presents a study on the behavior of precast concrete frames with participating masonry infill to be considered in the design of a building lateral load bracing system. The study brings a literature review on the topic. An experimental testing of a reinforced concrete frame infilled or not with masonry is used to calibrate a finite element model using the Simulia Abaqus 2017 package. The model uses concrete damage plasticity to consider both the concrete and the masonry behaviour. Embedded elements are used to consider rebars inside the concrete. Masonry elements are considered homogeneous with contact surfaces along the concrete-masonry interface. After the properties were calibrated the numerical models showed excellent accuracy when compared to the experimental tests. Precast concrete frames, whose dimensions and properties were from a real case, was then modelled with and without the participating masonry frame. The column-corbel and beam connection was modelled with solid elements with contact surface on the interface allowing to close represent its behaviour. Models considered a frame with one, five and ten storeys, two masonry strength and the use or nor of a mortar layer to fix masonry under the concrete beam. Conclusion from the finite element model analyses indicate the influence of each parameter on the system behaviour. The FEM results were then used to calibrate the width of a diagonal truss to be used in simple bar element models. Finally, a 3D-frame model was used to evaluate a actual 10-story precast concrete building considering or not the participating infill masonry. Only two masonry walls, close to the building central core and without openings, were considered yet results indicate great influence on considering the participating infill leading to an efficient building design. Future work is proposed to experimentally evaluate the conclusions from the numerical analyses here reported. / O presente trabalho realizou um estudo sobre o comportamento de estruturas aporticadas em concreto pré-moldado preenchidas com painéis de alvenaria, para fim de contraventamento de edificações, considerando a contribuição dessa alvenaria de preenchimento no pórtico pré-moldado para análise de ações horizontais. O estudo traz uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema. Um ensaio experimental de um pórtico de concreto armado preenchido ou não com alvenaria é usado para calibrar um modelo de elementos finitos usando o pacote Simulia Abaqus 2017. O modelo utiliza o dano plástico do concreto (CDP) para considerar o comportamento do concreto e alvenaria. Elementos embutidos são usados para considerar armaduras dentro do concreto. Os elementos de alvenaria são considerados homogêneos com as superfícies de contato ao longo da interface concreto-alvenaria. Depois que as propriedades foram calibradas, os modelos numéricos apresentaram excelente precisão quando comparados aos testes experimentais. Os quadros de concreto pré-fabricados, cujas dimensões e propriedades eram de um caso real, foram então modelados com e sem o preenchimento de alvenaria participante. A conexão pilar-viga foi modelada com elementos sólidos com superfície de contato na interface permitindo representar seu comportamento. Os modelos considerados foram um quadro com um, cinco e dez andares, duas resistências de alvenaria e o uso ou não de uma camada de argamassa para fixar alvenaria sob a viga de concreto. A conclusão das análises do modelo de elementos finitos indica a influência de cada parâmetro no comportamento do sistema. Os resultados de MEF foram utilizados para calibrar a largura de uma diagonal equivalente para ser usado em modelos simples de elementos de barras. Finalmente, um modelo de pórticos em 3D foi usado para avaliar um prédio de concreto pré-moldado de 10 andares, considerando ou não a alvenaria participante. Apenas duas paredes de alvenaria, perto do núcleo central do edifício e sem aberturas foram consideradas, os resultados indicam grande influência ao considerar o preenchimento participante, levando a um projeto de construção eficiente. O trabalho futuro é proposto para avaliar experimentalmente as conclusões das análises numéricas aqui relatadas.

Diplom thesis is about design of an office building. Building floor plan is designed as a rectangle. The building consists of four floors. Roofing the object is solved by a flat roof with strips of m-PVC. The purpose of the internal arrangement is to be able to lease office space to individual firms on the floor. On the first floor is situated an entrance hall with space for the doorman and staircase area. At the hall is also a personal elevator and utility room. These spaces are common to all tenants. In the space for offices are located toilets for women, for men and one toilet for the disabled. Kitchen with lounge and six offices. These spaces are connected with single corridor. The other floors are connected to administrative with hall, which houses a staircase and an elevator. In office spaces 2.NP. 3.NP and 4.NP are located toilets for women, for men and one toilet for the disabled. Kitchen with lounge, utility room and nine offices. These spaces are connected with single corridor. From these levels, there is also access to the evacuation staircase, which is designed according to the requirements for fire protection. On the 4.NP in the utility room is located auditing roof ascent. The project was developed in the educational version of ArchiCAD 17 and processed in accordance with the requirements of a layout, architectural design, structural design, proper and safe use of the building.

There is an excessive demand for the rehabilitation of frame type reinforced concrete (RC) buildings which do not satisfy current earthquake code provisions. Therefore, it is imperative to develop user-friendly seismic strengthening methodologies which do not necessitate the evacuation of building during rehabilitation period. In this study, it was aimed to strengthen the brick infill walls by means of diagonal Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) fabrics and to integrate them with the existing structural frame in order to form a new lateral load resisting system. The possible effects of height to width (aspect) ratio of the infill walls and scale of the frame test specimens on the overall behavior attained by the developed rehabilitation methodology were investigated. The experimental part of the study was carried out in two steps. In the first step, ten individual panel specimens were tested in order to understand the behavior of strengthened/non-strengthened masonry walls under diagonal earthquake loads. And in the second step, the tests of eight 1/3 and four 1/2 scaled one-bay, two-story RC frames having two different aspect ratios were performed to determine design details. The experimental results were revealed in terms of lateral stiffness, strength, drift and energy dissipation characteristics of the specimens. In the analytical part, an equivalent strut and tie approach was used for modeling the strengthened/non-strengthened infill walls of the frames. The predicted pushover responses of the frame models were compared with the test results. The design criteria required for the aforementioned strengthening methodology was developed referring these analytical results.

PC panel strengthening technique was developed in M.E.T.U. Structural Mechanics Laboratory in order to respond the need of practical and efficient pre-quake seismic strengthening procedures applicable to RC framed structures. The idea behind the method is simply to convert the non-structural infills into load bearing structural elements by gluing PC panels over the existing infill wall surface. The remarkable advantages of the procedure is not only the considerable amount of seismic performance improvement but also the simplicity of application, very low levels of disturbance to the occupants and most importantly, the applicability during service. A number of PC panel application parameters were experimentally investigated by previous researchers. The success of PC panel method on seismic performance improvement of RC frames with different aspect ratios was experimentally investigated in the present study. Total of fifteen, 1:3 scaled, one-bay, two-storey RC frames were tested in three various aspect ratio series. Constant axial load was applied to the columns and reversed cyclic load was applied in the lateral direction. Hollow brick v infilled frame and cast-in-place RC infilled frame were the lower and upper bound reference specimens, respectively. Seismic performance indicators such as response envelope curves, lateral load carrying capacities, cumulative energy dissipations, initial stiffness indicators and ductility values clearly showed the effectiveness of PC panel application over different geometry of RC frames of concern. Moreover, PC panel application either with rectangular or with strip shaped PC panels provided seismic performance improvement to be almost equal to that of cast-in-place RC infill application for all series. Equivalent diagonal strut concept was followed in analytical studies to simulate the infills of RC frame openings. The required strut material properties were estimated from total of eighteen individual wall panel tests. The bond-slip effect, due to utilization low strength of concrete and plain rebars, was also investigated and introduced to the analytical frame models. Non-linear push over analysis was performed for all specimens in OpenSees computer software. The analytical results were compared with that of experimental response envelopes.

Materially non-linear analysis of reinforced concrete frame structures with infill walls requires appropriate mathematical models to be adopted for the beams and the columns as well as the infill walls. This study presents a mathematical model for frame elements based on a 3D Hermitian beam/column finite element and an equivalent strut model for the infill walls. The spread-of-plasticity approach is employed to model the material nonlinearity of the frame elements. The cross-section of the frame element is divided into triangular sub regions to evaluate the stiffness properties and the response of the element cross-section. By the help of the triangles spread over the actual area of the section, the bi-axial bending and the axial deformations are coupled in the inelastic range. A frame super-element is also formed by combining a number of frame finite elements. Two identical compression-only diagonal struts are used for modeling the infill. The equivalent geometric and material properties of the struts are determined from the geometry of the infill and the strength of the masonry units A computer code is developed using the object-oriented design paradigm and the models are implemented into this code. Efficiency and the effectiveness of the models are investigated for various cases by comparing the numerical response predictions produced by the program with those obtained from experimental studies.

The importance of seismic rehabilitation became evident with 1992 Erzincan Earthquake, after which a large number of reinforced concrete buildings damaged in recent earthquakes required strengthening as well as repair. In the studies related to rehabilitation, it has been realized that inadequate lateral stiffness is one of the major causes of damage in reinforced concrete buildings. Recently, economical, structurally effective and practically applicable seismic retrofitting techniques are being developed in METU Structural Mechanics Laboratory to overcome these kinds of problems. The strengthening technique proposed in this thesis is on the basis of the principle of strengthening the existing hollow brick infill walls by using high strength precast concrete panels such that they act as cast-in-place concrete infills improving the lateral stiffness. Also, the technique would not require evacuation of the building and would be applicable without causing too much disturbance to the occupant. For this purpose, after two preliminary tests to verify the proper functioning of the newly developed test set-up, a total of fourteen one-bay two story reinforced concrete frames with hollow brick infill wall, two being unstrengthened reference frames, were tested under reversed cyclic lateral loading simulating earthquake loading. The specimens were strengthened by using six different types of precast concrete panels. Strength, stiffness, energy dissipation and story drift characteristics of the specimens were examined by evaluating the test results. Test results indicated that the proposed seismic strengthening technique can be very effective in improving the seismic performance of the reinforced concrete framed building structures commonly used in Turkey. In the analytical part of the study, hollow brick infill walls strengthened by using high strength precast concrete panels were modelled once by means of equivalent diagonal struts and once as monolithic walls having an equivalent thickness. The experimental results were compared with the analytical results of the two approaches mentioned. On the basis of the analytical work, practical recommendations were made for the design of such strengthening intervention to be executed in actual practice.

En utfackningsvägg är en icke bärande väggkonstruktion, ofta av trä som har för syfte att minimera energiförbrukningen för byggnader i betong. Inuti konstruktionen används ibland stålpelare för att bära ovanliggande konstruktioner. Stålpelarna utsätts för laster som de måste dimensioneras för. Över och under pelarna svetsas plåtar fast för att öka den belastade arean och hindra brott i betongen. I detta examensarbete har därför en datormodell i programmet Excel framtagits. Modellen dimensionerar kantpelare i stål enligt Eurokoderna. De brottsfall som ingår i modellen är genomstansning, prägling, spjälkning, avstånd till betongkant, reducering vid håltagning i betong, tryckkraftskapacitet för fot respektive topplåtarna och böjmoment för plåtarna.   Genomstansning är ett koniskt sprött brott som sker i betongen, det spröda brottet sker direkt utan förvarning och betongplattas bärförmåga sjunker snabbt vilket kan leda till ras.  Prägling är en lokal krossning av betongen och spjälkningen innebär att på grund av tryckkraften så uppstår en horisontell dragkraft i betongen vilket kan leda till brott. Då det är svårt att uppfatta i Eurokoderna för hur avståndet mellan plåtarna och betongkanten påverkar hållfastheten har därför en beräkningsmetod framställts, likvärdigt gäller för påverkan av håltagning nära en pelare. Exempel på hål kan vara trappor, hissar eller håltagning för värmestammar till radiatorer. Plåtarna beräknas i tvärsnittsklass tre. Modellen är uppbygg så att olika dimensioner och kvalitéer väljs, hållfastheten för konstruktionen beräknas och sedan redovisa om lasten klaras eller inte. I och med det så kan till exempel olika dimensioner och kvalitéer testas fram för att få en så optimal konstruktionslösning som möjligt. Avgränsningar har gjorts. Modellen beräknar bara de olika brottsfall som ovan nämns och berör endast kvadratiska VKR- profiler och plåtar. Pelare har beräknats som ledat infäst i båda upplagen där endast tryckkrafter dimensionerat betongen och plåtarna. Under det första skedet av arbetet så har fakta inhämtning för det olika brottsfallen gjort. Fakta har hämtats från litteratur, rapporter, undersökningar, forskningar, tidigare lösningar, diskussion med branscherfarna och tidigare respektive nyare regelverk. Därefter har datormodellen gjorts, målet med modellen är att få ett snabbt resultat och en komplett redovisning. Därför är modellen uppbygg så att varje brottsfall har en egen flik och kan redovisas enskilt.  För att modellen ska kunna användas av utomstående har standardbeteckningar, bilder och kommentarer använts. Modellen har kontrollerats med diverse beräkningsexempel och program för att få ett trovärdigt/användbart resultat. Slutsats: En väl fungerande modell har tagits fram och som kan användas av utomstående byggnadsingenjörer med minst gymnasieingenjörsutbildning. / A infill wall is a non-bearing wall construction, often is made af wood, which has the aim of minimizing the energy consumption of buildings in concrete. The inside the construction is sometimes steel designed for supporting the overlyingstructures. Steel studs are subjected to loads that they must be dimensioned to support. Above and below the colums plates are welded to increase the loaded area and prevent damages to the concrete. In this thesis a computer program in Excel has been created, the program dimensions border pillars in steel that follows the Eurocodes. Included in the program is punching, local pressure, splitting, distance to concrete, reduction when drilling in concrete, compression load capacity of foot and top plates, and bending torque the plates. Punching is a conical damage that occurs in the concrete, the damage occurs without warning and the concrete’s bearing capacity decreases rapidly which can lead to collapse. Local pressure is a local damage of the concrete and splitting, meaning that because of the pressure force arising can lead to a horizontal thrust in the concrete, which can lead to injuries. Since it is difficult to perceive the distance between the plates and the concrete edge of structural strength in the Eurocodes a calculation method has been made, equally applies to the consequences when drilling near a pillar. Examples of holes can be stairs, elevators or holes for heat strain for radiators. The plates are calculated in cross-section class three. The program is built so that different dimensions and qualities is selected, then the program calculates the strength of the structure and reports if will support the load. Different dimensions and qualities can be tested to get the optimal structure sollution. Limits have been set, the program only calculates the various injuries mentioned above and applies only to square VKR-sections and plates. Pillar has been calculated as articulated in both secured repository where the only pressure forces dimensioned concrete and plates. During the first phase of the work, gathering facts for the various types of damages has been done. Facts have been gathered from literature, reports, studies, researches, previous solutions, discussions with industry experienced and previous and more recent regulations. Since then, the computer program has been made, the goal of the program is to get a quick result and a complete report. Therefore, the program is made so that all damages is on different tabs and can be reported separately. So that the program can used by third parties standard names, images and comments are used. The program has been checked with various calculation examples and applications to achieve a credible / useful result. Conclusion: A well-functioning model has been developed and can be used by structural engineers with a education at least of technical college.

Diplom thesis is about design of the fire station of type C2 for the HZS. The building is divided into two parts. First part of a building is designed as a rectangular recessed floor. The first part of building consists of two floors and one underground floor. Roofed by a single-layer flat roof of soft PVC. The building will be used to perform the services, the fire brigade. It will be used 24 hours a day. In the basement is located warehouse, HVAC room, utility room and a lounge with an alternative source of electricity. On the first floor are designed garages for storage technique and also the dressing room, workroom, washing box, warehouse, room for chemical-technical service and concierge. The second floor is designed to serve firefighters. The second part of the building is a training tower, which will be used to train firefighters and for drying hoses. The training tower is designed as a simple steel structure with four floors. The project was developed in the educational version of ArchiCAD 16th project is designed in accordance with the requirements of a layout, architectural design, structural design proper and safe use of the building.