Multilevel reliability assessment of masonry infill strut models under seismic loading

Abstract

Reinforced concrete frames infilled with masonry walls (RC-IMW) are a commonly used configuration for low-to-medium-rise buildings in Sri Lanka. To analyse their seismic performance, they are represented as equivalent infill strut models in the structural analysis. Several masonry infill strut models have been proposed in the past, yet their reliability is not well assessed. This study evaluates the reliability of five recently developed strut models using the first-order reliability method. An experimental database comprising single-bay singlestorey tests and multi-storey tests was utilised. Non-linear numerical models of infilled frames were developed, and their in-plane load-displacement and time-history responses were compared with the experimental results using mean error and root mean square error. The results showed that the predicted reliability indices of the models vary between 1.03 and 4.13. Subsequently, the weighted sum method, assigning equal weight to all the considered scenarios, was employed to propose the most reliable model.