Experimental Study on Energy Dissipation Capacity of 3 bay 4 storey Masonry Infilled R.C Frame under Cyclic Loading

This experimental project was to study the structural behavior of a scaled three bay four storey RCC frame with brick infill in the central bay under cyclic loading. Normally brick infill contributes as shear wall up to failure and subject to diagonal failure. An attempt was made to extend the reinforcement from the columns of the frame to the brick layers and embed with concrete to form a monolithic RCC strip to strengthen the interface of infill walls and RCC frame and thereby diagonal cracks were prevented in the infill. The frame was subjected to cyclic loading to stimulate the earthquake. The effect of infill on load carrying capacity, deflection and energy dissipation were investigated. The crack pattern showed that the potentially adverse effect of the infill was nullified and the frame was ductile in nature and dissipated high energy at the plastic stage.