Structural Concepts in the Design of Masonry-Infilled Steel Frames

Abstract

Despite numerous research studies conducted in the field of masonry-infilled steel (and concrete) frames, there is still no adequate codified design method. There is, however, a consensus that masonry-infilled frames should be treated as potentially hazardous earthquake context structural solutions. While masonry infill has positive effects on steel frames, which are often neglected in design, adverse effects cannot be overlooked. Over the last decade, several structural solutions aimed to improve the overall structural behavior of these interactive composite systems were proposed and tested in laboratory conditions. It is not rare that these approaches are opposite to each other, which additionally stresses the fact that there is a need for recognition and validation of the key structural directions. Among various proposed design options, the authors are very interested in those which tend to include the beneficial effect of masonry infill, but at the same time preserve desired ductile behavior of steel frames, all by using simpler and easy to apply structural solutions. Some of them are already proposed by the authors, which are discussed in the paper, along with a summary and comparison of contemporary structural solutions in steel masonry-infilled frames, as an important step towards codification.