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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTON

1.1. General
Nowadays, according to educational, economical, social demands, and
potential of popularity, increase the numbers of R.C buildings around the world. In
Myanmar, many R.C framed buildings are mostly infilled with masonry because
masonry is easier, faster and even cheaper than other material.
In Myanmar, many multi-storied buildings today, essentially require open first
storey for parking of vehicles, for retail shopping, and for office meeting room, all of
which require large space.
The infill wall is the supported wall that closes the perimeter of a building
constructed with a three-dimensional framework structure such as steel and reinforced
concrete. The infill wall has the unique static function to bare its own weight. The
infill wall is an external vertical opaque type of closure. Reinforced concrete frame
buildings with masonry infill walls have been widely constructed in seismic-prone
regions worldwide. Masonry infill typically consists of brick, clay tile or concrete
block walls, constructed between columns and beams of a RC frame.
The brick masonry is the most preferred infill material in reinforced concrete
buildings because of its advantages such as durability, thermal insulation, cost and
simple construction technique. The infill panels are generally not considered in the
design process and treated as architectural (non-structural) components. The presence
of masonry infill walls has a significant impact on the seismic response of an RC
frame building, increasing structural strength and stiffness (relative to a bare RC
frame), but, at the same time, introducing brittle failure mechanisms associated with
the wall failure and wall-frame interaction.
The use of masonry infill walls offres an economical and durable solution.
They are easy to build, attractive for architectural and have a very efficient cost-
performance. The unreinforced masonry infills are commonly used as partitions,
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exterior walls, walls around stairs and elevators’ service shaft in RC frame buildings.
Today, masonry enclosures and partition walls are mainly made of clay units, but also
aggregate concrete units and autoclaved aerated concrete units are used. The most
commonly used technique to model infill panels is that of single or multiple
compressive equivalent diagonal struts. The infill walls are typically of 4.5 to 9 inches
thick. Due to the functional requirements, the openings are provided in the frames for
windows and doors and so on.

1.2. Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are as follows:
1. To study the structural behavior of reinforced concrete building with the
effect of masonry infill walls.
2. To investigate the effects of infill walls in reinforced concrete frame
subjected to lateral loads,
3. To determine and compare the response of different types of frames (bare
frame, infilled frame) under earthquake load.
4. To check the structural stability of six-storeyed RC building with masonry
infill wall.

1.3. Scopes of the Study

The scope of the study is restricted to achieve the objectives. These are as
follows:
1. Six story RC building will be analysed and designed by using ETABS
9.7.1 Software.
2. All are designed by using building code of American Concrete Institute
(ACI) 318-99.
3. The equivalent diagonal struts for brick masonry infilled walls are
modelled according to FEMA-273.
4. Equivalent static wind and earthquake loads are based on UBC-97.
5. UBC seismic zone 2B will be considered for seismic loading.
6. The five models are analysed and designed by using equivalent static
analysis.
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1.4. Implementation Programme

The implementation programme for the comparison between with and without
infill walls is presented in Figure 1.1.

Select the case study model

Design and modelling of six-storeyed RC building

Calculate infill strut width according to FEMA-273

Creating the model with and without infill wall at

different levels using ETABS software

Stability check for superstructure

Compare the results

Discussions and conclusions

Figure 1.1. Flow Chart for Implementation Programme

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1.5. Outlines of Study

The content of the dissertation is organized into the following chapters: the
first chapter provides introduction to this study. The chapter two includes literature
review which can be used as a guideline for this study. The chapter three consists of
preparation of data for analysis which is infill strut width, loading such as dead load,
live load, wind load and seismic load, load combinations, material properties and
modelling used in this study. The chapter four consists of checking and structural
analysis of the superstructure of proposed building. After that discussion, conclusions
and recommendations are described in chapter five.