Tenth U.S.

National Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Frontiers of Earthquake Engineering
July 21-25, 2014
10NCEE Anchorage, Alaska

NON-LINEAR FINITE ELEMENT

MODELING OF RC FRAME-MASONRY
WALL INTERACTION UNDER CYCLIC
LOADINGS
R. Allouzi1, A. Irfanoglu2, and G. Haikal3

ABSTRACT

Field data gathered after destructive earthquakes indicate that interaction between reinforced
concrete frames and infill walls in a building during an earthquake can alter the performance of
the structure, to the detriment or benefit of the building. The objective of this study was to
investigate the ability of numerical non-linear finite element modeling to predict the performance
of RC frames infilled with masonry wall. New techniques are developed to simulate the cyclic
response of reinforced concrete (RC) frames infilled with masonry wall with good convergence to
experimental data. 3D non-linear finite element models developed using ABAQUS 6.11-1 has the
capability to model strength and stiffness degradation and simulate various types of in-plane failure
modes of infilled frames under monotonic and cyclic loadings. Continuum material models are
used for concrete, steel, mortar, and bricks elements and cohesive-friction interfaces along mid-
thickness of mortar bed joints. These models are calibrated based on experiments tested by
Mehrabi (Mehrabi, 1996). These models are intended to develop hysteresis models of infilled RC
frames failed by shear to enhance our understanding of the behavior of the complex system and
behavior of RC frames with masonry infill walls under cyclic loadings.

1
Graduate Student Researcher, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
rallouzi@purdue.edu
2
Associate Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
ayhan@purdue.edu
3
Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
ghaikal@purdue.edu

Allouzi R, Irfanoglu A, Haikal G.. Non-linear finite element modeling of RC frame-masonry wall interaction under
cyclic loadings. Proceedings of the 10th National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering
Research Institute, Anchorage, AK, 2014.
 Tenth U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering
Frontiers of Earthquake Engineering
July 21-25, 2014
10NCEE Anchorage, Alaska

Non-Linear Finite Element Modeling of RC Frame-Masonry Wall

Interaction under Cyclic Loadings

R. Allouzi1 , A. Irfanoglu2, and G. Haikal3

ABSTRACT

Field data gathered after destructive earthquakes indicate that interaction between reinforced
concrete frames and infill walls in a building during an earthquake can alter the performance of the
structure, to the detriment or benefit of the building. The objective of this study was to investigate
the ability of numerical non-linear finite element modeling to predict the performance of RC frames
infilled with masonry wall. New techniques are developed to simulate the cyclic response of
reinforced concrete (RC) frames infilled with masonry wall with good convergence to experimental
data. 3D non-linear finite element models developed using ABAQUS 6.11-1 has the capability to
model strength and stiffness degradation and simulate various types of in-plane failure modes of
infilled frames under monotonic and cyclic loadings. Continuum material models are used for
concrete, steel, mortar, and bricks elements and cohesive-friction interfaces along mid-thickness of
mortar bed joints. These models are calibrated based on experiments tested by Mehrabi (Mehrabi,
1996). These models are intended to develop hysteresis models of infilled RC frames failed by shear
to enhance our understanding of the behavior of the complex system and behavior of RC frames
with masonry infill walls under cyclic loadings.

Introduction

Reinforced concrete frames infilled with masonry walls are very common construction in
earthquake-prone countries. Field data gathered after destructive earthquakes indicate that
dynamic interaction between RC frames and infill walls in a building alter the performance of the
structure. At times, brittle shear failure might occur in a frame originally designed for ductile
behavior and flexural failure mode. These systems have been studied experimentally to understand
their performance and to develop simple analytical models to incorporate infill walls in the design
process. Additionally, numerical models have been developed and used in parametric studies.

Nonlinear finite-element models developed recently include advances in component and interface
representation for this type of construction. For example, computational models developed by
Lotfi and Shing (1994), Lourenco (1996), Chaar (2008), and Citto (2008). Mehrabi and Shing
(1997) simulate the behavior of masonry infilled RC frames using smeared crack elements for the

1
Graduate Student Researcher, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
rallouzi@purdue.edu
2
Associate Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
ayhan@purdue.edu
3
Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907;
ghaikal@purdue.edu
RC frame and masonry units, and finite thickness of interface for mortar joints. While these models
incorporate the nonlinear behavior of the infilled frames, they fail to capture some of the failure
mechanisms observed in their tests [5]. Stavridis and Shing (2010) developed models to assess
the influence of material properties, gravity loading, geometry of the RC frame, and the size and
location of openings in the masonry wall. These models considered 51 parameters for mortar and
masonry units for the infill and concrete reinforced with steel bars. In their models, the expected
planes of fracture are predefined as interfaces in frame, mortar joints, and even within brick units
[6]. Koutromanos et al. (2011) demonstrated the ability of nonlinear FE models to consider the
cyclic opening and closing of cracks, the reversible shear behavior, strength and stiffness
degradation in tensile region, and non-linear behavior in compression [7].

In this paper, different techniques are used to simulate numerically the structural frame-infill wall
interaction under monotonic and cyclic loadings. The element discretization and constitutive
models of materials and interfaces have been selected carefully to capture all expected modes of
failures of components and interfaces. The proposed model overcomes the difficulties of
predefining shear cracks initiation and propagation planes manually, the long computational time
to run these models, and the tedious calibration process encountered in discrete models. The
proposed model is calibrated first to capture the monotonic response, i.e. the failure mode, crack
pattern, and material behavior of infilled RC frames in the loading regime. Then the stiffness and
strength degradation under cyclic loadings are studied to simulate unloading-reloading regime.
These models will be used in future research to develop a hysteresis model for RC frames infilled
with masonry walls.

Finite Element Analysis Scheme

This study considers reinforced concrete frames designed for gravity loads and infilled with
masonry wall consisting of concrete bricks with horizontal and vertical mortar joints. In design,
typically, infill masonry walls are treated as non-structural elements even though they interact with
the RC frame, i.e. structural system. Accordingly, RC frames with masonry infills typically fail
during strong earthquakes through a failure mechanism different than what they were designed
for. A commercial software was used to develop comprehensive 3D nonlinear finite element
models that can capture all failure mechanisms. These models can be used to develop a estimate
response of these systems in low to mid height buildings.

Different techniques available in ABAQUS 6.11-1 [8] analysis software were investigated to
model behavior of infilled RC frame systems under monotonic and cyclic loadings. A 3D
representative model that considers large deformations and material nonlinearity capabilities is
developed. The finite element discretization and constitutive models of materials and interfaces
have been selected carefully to capture all expected modes of failures of components and
interfaces, namely, compressive crushing and tensile cracking of concrete, compressive crushing
and tensile splitting of bricks, shear or tensile fracture in mortar joints, and reinforcement yielding.
The new model can also capture diagonal cracking and sliding shear cracking in the infill walls.
Existing models capture these two key failure modes of infill walls only with prior knowledge of
crack locations and orientations or using excessive number of material parameters which result in
over-calibration and lack of model robustness.
 Finite Element Discretization

Reinforced concrete frame is modeled in 3D space as a composition of truss elements of steel

reinforcement embedded into 3D stress hexahedra elements of concrete (Fig.1). Infill wall is built
from bricks bonded together by horizontal and vertical mortar bed joints. It is discretized such that
cohesive interfaces are placed in the middle of mortar bed joints leaving a part composed of brick
and half thickness of mortar around it (Fig. 2). Continuum 3D stress tetrahedral elements of bricks
and mortar are able to interact with cohesive interfaces to model the diagonal shear cracking of the
wall without prior knowledge of crack location and orientation and without excessive involving of
cohesive interfaces within brick units themself. By mortar joint interface implementation, the
model of infill wall can capture the sliding shear cracking in the infill walls and overcomes the
excessive distortion of mortar along these surfaces. Besides, the frictional resistance is directly
incorporated after the cohesive strength starts to diminish along these surfaces. Cracks along the
brick-mortar interfaces are captured by the continuum material model.

Figure 1. Finite Element discretization Figure 2. Finite element discretization of infill wall.
of reinforced concrete frame.

Constitutive Models of RC Frames Infilled with Masonry Walls

Several continuum constitutive models are available in ABAQUS to represent the brittle behavior
of concrete (either in bricks or frame members) and ductile behavior of steel besides the various
interface and contact models. The specific models used in this study are described below with brief
description of their suitability to this type of structures.

Constitutive Model of Concrete

Discrete crack models were used successfully to model shear type of cracks in concrete and
masonry walls [6, 7]. But these models have some drawbacks, namely; the expected shear crack
initiation and propagation planes need be predefined manually, the large computational time to run
these models, and the tedious calibration process. The continuum material models can also be used
to simulate shear cracks in concrete (Malm and Holmgren, 2008). The local variation in concrete
can initiate cracks due to its heterogeneity which makes continuum material models more suitable
for simulating cracks in concrete [9].

The Concrete Damaged Plasticity model, available in ABAQUS [8], is a continuum model that is
designed for brittle materials subjected to monotonic as well as cyclic loading. This model uses
the damaged elasticity as well as tension and compression plasticity. The damaged elasticity is
defined by scalar parameters that describe the unrecovered damage that occurs during tensile
cracking and compressive crushing under cyclic loading as

= 1 − 
 (1)

where E0 is the initial modulus of elasticity and E is the damaged modulus of elasticity. The
parameter d represents the damage variable which is defined as a function of cracking strain.
In this study, d is defined after the peak strength in tension and compression are reached, and is
equal to the ratio of the relative reduction in stress from that achieved at peak strength. The
transition from tension to compression and vice versa is another important aspect that is considered
in modeling the concrete response under cyclic loading. This includes closing of cracks and
partially recovering the compressive stiffness when the load changes from tension to compression.
Also, total or partial recovery of tensile stiffness is expected when uncrushed or partially crushed
concrete undergo tensile loading.

The plasticity of concrete under compression is described by the hardening and softening behavior
of concrete under uniaxial test (see Fig.3). This behavior of unconfined concrete is modeled based
on Tsai’s equation in the form of


=   (2)
 
 
 

 
where  =  , = , and n and r are parameters to control the shape of the curve [13]. The
 
enhanced strength and ductility of concrete in columns due to confinement provided by lateral
reinforcement (stirrups) is considered in this study.

The tensile behavior is elastic until strength limit is reached. The plastic branch is modeled to
simulate the load transfer across cracks to steel bar through what is called “tension stiffening” [8].
Stress-strain relation of tension stiffening is defined by Tsai’s equation as:


=   (3)
 
  
 

 
where  =   , =   , nt and r are parameters to control the shape of the curve.
 

After defining tensile and compressive damage and recovery parameters, cyclic response of
concrete cylinder can be estimated (see Fig. 4).
 Figure 3. Stress-strain curve of concrete cylinder under cyclic loading.

Constitutive Model of Steel

Elastic-plastic model is used to simulate uniaxial response of embedded steel bars used for
concrete reinforcement. The inelastic behavior of steel subjected to cyclic loading is modeled by
combined hardening and stabilized type of data, meaning, steady-state stress-strain curve is
assumed. For reinforcing bars grade 60, the model is calibrated based on the tests by Ma et al.
(1976) (see Fig. 5) [12]. This constitutive model is also used for stirrups and calibrated based on
experiments by Panthaki (1991) (see Fig. 6) [13].

100 100
80 80
60 60
40 40
Stress (ksi)

20
Stress (Ksi)

20
0
0
-0.04 -0.02 -20 0 0.02 0.04
-0.02 -0.01 -20-1E-17 0.01 0.02
-40
-40 -60
Abaqus Results Experimental
-60 -80
Experimental -100 Abaqus results
-80
Strain (in/in) Strain (in/in)

Figure 4. Stress-strain curve of reinforcing Figure 5. Stress-strain curve of stirrups under

bars under cyclic loading. cyclic loading.
Constitutive Model of Bricks

The Concrete Damaged Plasticity model is also used for brick material (plain concrete). The
compressive plasticity is defined as before. The tension plasticity modeling of bricks is defined
based on stress-displacement response rather than a stress-strain response to avoid mesh
sensitivity. This is related to the fact that when concrete cracks across some section within brick,
the brick length is determined based on the amount of opening across the crack which does not
depend on size of the brick [8].

For tension softening, a relation defined by van der Pluijm (1992) [15] was used:


 =  exp− %  (4)
"#$

where  is the tensile strength of brick taken as 6'() and () is the compressive strength of
concrete bricks. *+, is the first mode of fracture energy, and % is the crack opening displacement
[15].

Mortar Joint Interface

Cohesive behavior is enforced between surfaces located at the mid=-thickness of mortar segment
prior to damage (Fig.2). This behavior represents the interaction between these surfaces based on
traction versus separation law. Damage is modeled to simulate the reduction and failure of
cohesive interface. Damage is modeled over two steps: a damage initiation and a damage evolution
[8].

Damage initiation follows a linear criterion of maximum contact stress ratios, and is represented
as:

 /  /  /
-.  +  .1  +  .  = 1 (5)
- 1 

where 2
, 24 , 2 are nominal traction stress components, and 2
5 , 245 , 25 are peak values of the contact
stress when the separation is either purely normal to the interface or purely in the first or the second
shear direction in plane, respectively.

Once the damage initiation criterion is met, a linear damage evolution law is defined to simulate
the rate at which the cohesion stiffness degrades. Accordingly, the friction model is activated and
ramped up in proportion to the degradation rate of the cohesive stiffness. At this stage, the shear
stress is represented as a combination of cohesion and friction until all cohesion is lost and the
only contribution is from the friction model. The whole material and interface models of brick and
mortar described before are implemented in ABAQUS to simulate the response of prisms tested
by Mehrabi [11]. These prisms consist of two solid concrete bricks and a mortar placed along the
bed joint. They were subjected to a range of compressive loads, applied on the bricks and
perpendicular to joint bed orientation, before shear force is applied. Results are compared to
experiments in Figs. 7 and 8.
 120 Finite Element 200
Finite Element
Experimental Experimental 150
80
Shear Stress (psi)

100
40

Shear Stress (psi)

50

0 0
-0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4
-50
-40
-100
-80 -150
Shear Displacement (in) Shear Displacement (in)
Figure 6. Shear stress-shear displacement Figure 7. Shear stress-shear displacement
curve of mortar joint between two curve of mortar joint between two
solid concrete bricks under 75 psi solid concrete bricks under 150 psi
normal stress. normal stress.

Integrated RC frame with infill wall

The RC frames and infill masonry walls interact through cohesive interfaces applied around the
wall panel. These interfaces also represent the middle surface of mortar that lies between the frame
and the wall so that the dimensions of frame and wall panel will be same.

The simulation results from the proposed model of integrated RC frame with infill wall are
compared with experimental data provided by Mehrabi et al. [11]. These tests provide a database
of the response of infilled frames under monotonic and cyclic loading. The relative stiffness and
strength of RC frames to infill walls have been studied by testing two types of frames and infill
walls (Table A.1). Specimens are ½ scale and designed to represent first story infilled interior
frame of a typical office building. The prototype structure is a six-story three-bays RC frame
system infilled with masonry walls in the middle bay only.

Results from the proposed model representing five specimens (specimens 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 in
Mehrabi et al. [11] tests) tested monotonically are shown in Fig. 8. The response agrees well with
experimental data except in specimen 2 where a large lateral force was applied to the specimen
that cracked the infill before the data were recorded. Hence, the base shear-drift curve for specimen
2 represents the post-crack behavior of the specimen. Results of proposed model for another
specimen, specimen 5, tested under cyclic loadings is shown in Fig. 9. The response agrees well
with experimental data, and failure modes of these numerical models compares well with
experimental of these specimens (Fig. A.1).

Conclusions

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of numerical non-linear finite element
models to predict the performance of RC frames infilled with masonry wall. It is proven that
calibrated finite element models can serve as a beneficial tool for further study of infilled frames.
Continuum Concrete Damage Plasticity model in conjunction with cohesive-friction interfaces
along mid-thickness of mortar bed joints were capable of simulating the behavior of infilled frames
under monotonic and cyclic loadings. Damage parameters and stiffness recovery defined
previously resulted in cyclic response with good agreement with experimental data. Few geometric
and physical properties are needed for these simulations compared to discrete model approaches
used by previous researchers that require predefining the expected shear cracks initiation and
propagation planes manually, large computational time to run simulations, and tedious calibration
process. The proposed modeling procedure holds promise and will be used to develop hysteresis
model for this type of construction to estimate response during earthquake ground motion.

70
Spec1-Exp.
Spec2-Exp.
60 Spec 3-Exp.
Spec 8-Exp.
50 Spec 9-Exp.
Lateral Load (kips)

Spec1-FE
Spec2-FE
40
spec3-FE
Spec8-FE
30 spec9-FE

20

10

0
0 0.5 Drift1 (in) 1.5 2
Figure 8. Base shear- story drift curve of weak frame infilled with brick wall. Experimental
data are from Mehrabi et al. [11].

120
FE results
80 Experiment

40
Base Shear (kips)

0
-1.6 -1.2 -0.8 -0.4 0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6
-40

-80

-120
Drift (in)
Figure 9. Base shear- story drift curve of weak frame infilled with solid brick
wall (Specimen 5 in Mehrabi et al. [11]).
 Appendix A

(a)

(b)
Figure A.1. Deformed shape of Specimen 5: (a) ABAQUS model (b) Experiment photo by
Mehrabi [16].

Table A.1. Details of Mehrabi et al. [11] specimens.

Specimen Infill wall Vertical loading (kips) Lateral Loading

Spec 1 - Col. (66) Monotonic
Spec 2 Hollow Col. (66) Monotonic
Spec 3 Solid Col. (66) Monotonic
Spec 5 Solid Col. (44)/beam(22) Cyclic
Spec 8 Hollow Col. (44)/beam(22) Monotonic
Spec 9 Solid Col. (44)/beam(22) Monotonic
 References

1. Lotfi, H.R. and P.B. Shing (1994). “An interface model applied to fracture of masonry structures.” J. Struct. Eng.,
ASCE, 120(1): 63-80.

2. Lourenco, P.B. (1996). “Computational strategies for masonry structures,” Doctoral Thesis, Civil Engineering
Department, Delft University, The Netherlands.

3. Al-Chaar, G., Mehrabi, A. B., and Manzouri, T. (2008). “Finite element interface modeling and experimental
verification of masonry-infilled R/C frames.” Masonry Soc. J.MSJUET0741-1294, 26(1), 47–65.

4. Citto C. (2008). “Two-Dimensional Interface Model Applied to masonry structures.” Master’s Thesis. University
of Colorado at Boulder.

5. Mehrabi, A.B. and P. B. Shing (1997). “Finite element modeling of masonry-infilled RC frames.” J. Struct. Eng.,
ASCE, Vol. 123(5), 604-613.

6. Stavridis, A. and Shing, P.B. (2010). “Finite-Element Modeling of Nonlinear Behavior of Masonry-Infilled RC
Frames,” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 136, No. 3, 285–296.
7. Koutromanos, I., Stavridis, A., Shing, P.B., and Willam, K. (2011). “Numerical modeling of masonry-infilled RC
frames subjected to seismic loads.” Computers and Structures 89, pp. 1026-1037.
8. ABAQUS Analysis User’s Manual Online Documentation. (Version 6.11). (Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp.,
Providence, RI, USA. (2011)).
9. Malm, R. and Holmgren, J. (2008). “Cracking in deep beams owing to shear loading. Part 2: Non-linear analysis.”
Magazine of Concrete Research, Vol. 60, No. 5, 381-388.

10. Chang, G.A., and Mander, J.B. (1994). “Seismic Energy Based Fatigue Damage Ananlysis of Bridge Columns:
Part 1 – Evaluation of Seismic Capacity.” NCEER Technical Report No. NCEER-94-0006, State University of
New York, Buffalo, N.Y.

11. Mehrabi, A. B., P. B. Shing, M. P. Schuller, and J. L. Noland (1996). “Experimental evaluation of masonry-
infilled RC frames.” J. of Structural Eng., 122(3):228-237.

12. Ma S.M., Bertero V.V., Popov E.P. (1976). “Experimental and analytical studies on hysteretic behavior of
reinforced concrete rectangular and T-beams.” Rep. EERC 76-2, Earthquake Engineering Research Center,
University of California, Berkeley, CA.

13. Panthaki, F.D., (1991). “Low Cyclic Fatigue Behavior of High Strength and Ordinary Reinforcing Steels.” MS-
Thesis, SUNY/Buffalo.

14. Tsai, W. T. (1988). “Uniaxial compressional stress-strain relation of concrete.” J. of Structural Engineering,
114(9):2133-2136.

15. Van der Pluijm, R. (1992). “Material Properties of Masonry and its Components under Tension and Shear.”
Proceedings of the 6th Canadian Masonry Symposium, Saskatoon, Canada, pp. 675-686.

16. Mehrabi, A. B., Shing, P. B., Schuller, M., and Noland, I. (1994), “Performance of masonry-infilled RIC frames
under in-plane lateral loads,” Rep. CD/SR-94/6, Dept. of Civ., Envir., and Arch. Engrg., Univ. of Colorado,
Boulder, CO.