Experimental study on the influence of non-fired brick walls on the behavior of multi-span reinforced concrete frames

Abstract

In construction projects, the infill wall within the frame primarily serves the purpose of providing coverage. Nonetheless, this infill wall also plays a role in enhancing the stiffness of the frame, thereby minimizing the horizontal displacement of the structure. Infill walls are commonly constructed using fired clay bricks. However, in recent years, the extraction of clay for brick production has led to the depletion of clay resources and has had a significant negative impact on the environment. This study involved the use of non-fired brick to create infill walls within two-span reinforced concrete frames. The research findings indicate that the bearing capacity of the frame improved by 220% when utilizing non-fired brick measuring 40×80×180mm and 80×80×180mm. Utilizing 40×80×180mm non-fired brick results in an 8.4 times reduction in the horizontal displacement of the frame. In contrast, employing 80×80×180mm non-fired brick leads to an 8.9 times reduction in horizontal displacement, both measured against the case without brick filling at a load level of 50kN, which represents the destructive load level of the frame absent infill walls.