Investigation of Diagonal Strut Actions in Masonry-Infilled Reinforced Concrete Frames

This study analytically investigated the behavior of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills. For the analysis, VecTor2, a nonlinear finite element analysis program that implements the Modified Compression Field Theory and Disturbed Stress Field Model, was used. To account for the slip behavior at the mortar joints in the masonry element, the hyperbolic Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion, defined as a function of cohesion and friction angle, was used. The analysis results showed that the lateral resistance and failure mode of the infilled frames were significantly affected by the thickness of the masonry infill, cohesion on the mortar joint–brick interface, and poor mortar filling (or gap) on the masonry boundary under the beam. Diagonal strut actions developed along two or three load paths on the mortar infill, including the backstay actions near the tension column and push-down actions near the compression columns. Such backstay and push-down actions increased the axial and shear forces of columns, and ultimately affect the strength, ductility, and failure mode of the infilled frames.