Experimentally determined dynamic responses of ten scale models of masonry infilled steel frames were compared with the results of three simple analytical models. Effects investigated included stiffening and strengthening contribution of the masonry infill, degradation of the system, motion intensity, frame stiffness, and rotational joint rigidity at slab-to-column intersections. Tests on one-third scale models, subjected to sinusoidal motions, revealed that masonry infill markedly increases the dynamic strength and stiffness of the system. At weak-to-moderate motions (below 0.5 g), models exhibited a nonlinear response before the final failure, while strong motions accelerated the system degradation rate. Stiffer frames and rotationally rigid joints resulted in significantly increased system dynamic strength. A braced frame model wherein cross-bracing replaces the panel action adequately predicted linear and lower-region nonlinear responses of infilled frames with flexible column-to-slab rotational conditions. Satisfactory predictions of the linear response of framed walls with rigid column-to-slab rotational conditions were made with a single degree of freedom model. The third analytical model based on an equivalent strut technique was found to be unsatisfactory for predicting dynamic response of masonry infilled frames. Key words: masonry panel, steel frame, shear, dynamic, analytical, experimental.
Numerical‐Experimental Evaluation of Masonry Infill Contribution to the Stiffening of Steel Frames
