Brick walls interventions with FRPU or PUFJ and of RC columns with FR in brick-infilled RC structures with the use of pushover beam-column element analysis and pseudo-dynamic 3d finite element analysis

This analytical study presents the effects of the strength and position of typical brick wall infills on the behavior of typical low rise deficient RC structure. The RC columns were retrofitted with different kinds of FRPs or Fiber Rope (FR) confinement. Pushover inelastic analyses were performed with SeismoStruct utilizing advanced beam-column elements and inelastic brick infill elements retrofitted with innovative Fiber Reinforced Polyurethane (FRPU). Past and recent pseudo-static and dynamic experiments have validated the increased displacement ductility brick walls retrofitted with FRPU and further strengthen the reliability of the performed analyses. The conclusions of this analytical study suggest that infill wall retrofit with FRPU may enable designers for alternative, more efficient interventions to meet contemporary code requirements. Suitable dynamic 3-dimensional Finite Element Modeling of RC and infills are presented to help advance innovative retrofit design for desirable in- and out-of-plane performance of RC frame – brick infill systems.