Behavior of Full and Partially Infilled Reinforced Concrete Frame Subjected to Horizontal Loading

Abstract

In this research work, six storey, three bay prototype structure were designed for strong earth quake load and bottom storey, interior bay was considered. A 1/3rd scaled three reinforced concrete (RC) frames of bare, partially infilled and full infilled RC frames was selected to check the behavior of full and partially infilled RC frames subjected to horizontal loading. The effect of lateral (horizontal) loads on any reinforced concrete frame that might arise as a result of seismic loads was investigated. The RC frames were scaled down to a modeled structure that was tested in a loading frame of capacity 20 tons. Bare frame with just columns and beams, masonry infill with openings and masonry infill without openings RC frames were the 3 different specimens that were made for testing after 28 days of curing. Lateral loading was applied by loading frame. The results showed that the full infill frame took maximum load as expected with least deflections, the bare frame took the least load and the infill frame with opening resisted little more load than bare frame but less than the infill frame without opening. However, at any given point of loading the deflection was highest for the bare frame and least for the full infill frame, which suggested that frames with infill performed better as compared to the bare frame.