Linear time history analysis for the out-of-plane seismic demand of infill walls in RC framed buildings

Infill walls are commonly used in RC frame structures but are neglected in the structural analysis. It is well known that infill walls could have a significant effect on the structural performance of RC frames under seismic actions, as recently occurred in Italy during the L’Aquila event; furthermore, in many cases, the damage to infill walls is due to out-of-plane actions that can pose a risk to human life (falling of heavy parts). The current paper addresses the behavior of out-of-plane infill walls by conducting parametric linear dynamic time-history analyses. The scope of the parametric study is to evaluate the seismic demand of out-of-plane infill walls by considering the variation of the walls’ properties and the position in the building. Finally, the code provisions for evaluating the seismic action on the infill walls by equivalent static forces are examined and compared with the analytical results from the detailed dynamic analysis.