Effect of infill walls on the behavior of BA structures

This work analyzes the seismic performance of a reinforced concrete structure located in a high seismicity zone, focusing on the influence of the layout of the infill walls in plan and elevation. Using Pushover analysis, different infill configurations are evaluated through capacity curves, absorbed energy, inter-storey displacements and performance levels. The impact of walls on torsional effects is investigated via a linear dynamic analysis, incorporating a fiber-discretized plastic ball-and-socket macro-model. The results reveal that infill walls enhance lateral stiffness, but that non-uniform arrangement can degrade seismic performance, induce excessive displacements and increase the risk of collapse. Asymmetrical configurations cause additional torsion, and the absence of walls on the first floor can result in flexible floors. The study underlines the need for rigorous consideration of wall layout to guarantee the seismic resilience of structures.