ABSTRACT
The University of Padova and ANDIL proposed a construction system named Damage Reduction Enclosure System. The system is made of a single-leaf clay masonry wall, with three horizontal rubber joints within the clay unit rows, to be employed for low to medium height reinforced concrete frames in regions prone to medium/high intensity earthquakes. The model can reproduce the in-plane behaviour of tested specimens modelling real boundary conditions of tests set-up, and adopting interface elements to represent the special rubber joints. To characterise the behaviour of the rubber joint were performed local tests that consisted on triplets: shear in plane, shear out of plane and flexural tests. The use of unreinforced masonry as an infill for reinforced concrete frame is common to many countries. Seismic events highlighted that non-structural damage was extensive varying from small cracks to collapse; they can represent a hazard for human lives, along with minor or no damage to structural elements.
