10 P.G. Asteris et al.

1.60 The numerical investigation carried out in this work

Analytical prediction
showed that there is a non-linear relationship between the
1.40 (λ*=11.4) parameters k and r. Therefore, the following equation can
be used:
1.20 Analytical prediction
(λ*=0.70)
l h
1.00
r·g0 ðkÞ·g00 ¼ rk g ð15Þ
h l
rkγ

0.80
Numerical results
0.60
where

0.40 k ¼ ½1 þ ð18l * þ 200Þ1v  ð16Þ

0.20 εv=0.00016
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/ h=2.0 and
0.00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 0:5r
ξ g¼1þ : ð17Þ
ðh=‘Þ4
1.60
Analytical prediction
1.40 (λ*=8.60)
Equation (16) for k was previously proposed by Amato
et al. (2009) for the case of infills without opening and
1.20 Analytical prediction verified for square infilled frame, whereas here it is
(λ*=0.30)
proposed for square and rectangular infills in general.
1.00
In Figures 9 and 10, it is important to note that the
proposed analytical Equation (15) fits the numerical
rkγ

0.80 Numerical results

results. Equation (15) takes into account the variation of
0.60 the dimensionless width due to l * for a high value of the
opening ratio (i.e. close to 1) and neglects the influence of
0.40
l * for the lowest values of j where the influence of the
0.20 εv=0.00032 infills themselves becomes negligible.
At this point, the strong interaction between openings
/ h=2.0
0.00 and vertical loads is expressed by the exponent g applied
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 to the parameter k. In fact, while k was generated to take
ξ the influence of vertical loads into account, g depends on
1.60
the reduction factor r that, conversely, was generated to
take the influence of openings into account. Considering
Analytical prediction Equations (16) and (17) allows one to conclude that if
1.40
(λ*=8.60)
there are no vertical loads the following equation is valid:
1.20 Analytical prediction
(λ*=0.30)
1.00 k g ¼ k: ð18Þ
rkγ

0.80 Numerical results

The above formulation is an extension of the one proposed
0.60 by Amato et al. (2009).
In Figure 11, the values assumed by k g varying the
0.40 vertical loads and the opening ratio can be observed,
evidencing vertical loads seems to assume a stronger role
0.20 εv=0.0008
in the case of square infills.
/ h=2.0 Equation (15) for the reduction factor r can be
0.00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
considered as an updating of the expression proposed by
Asteris (2003), Asteris, Giannopoulos, and Chrysostomou
ξ
(2012), Asteris et al. (2013). However, as concluded by
Figure 10. Reduction factor of w/d due to openings combined Asteris (2003), the reduction factor r here proposed does
with the amplification factor due to vertical loads for different not depend on the aspect ratio of infills but assumes lightly
levels of vertical loads (numerical points and fitting curves) for different values especially for the cases of low levels of the
l=h ¼ 2. opening ratio.