ABSTRACT
This chapter presents trypical damages recorded after earthquakes in reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills synthetically. Problems related to the performance of masonry infills and construction techniques can also be identified in newly constructed buildings. The usual design practice of infilled reinforced concrete frame structures is performed on bare frame elastic structural models, and the masonry infills are considered sometimes only in terms of masses and vertical loads. The seismic design codes treat infill walls as non-structural parts of a building, but recordings after earthquakes indicate that infill walls in frame structures have a structural contribution to the overall behaviour of the building. Due to the fact that the external veneers and masonry infills create a healthy indoor environment in terms of temperature, noise, moisture, fire and durability, their behaviour to seismic actions is directly related to the total cost of the building and maintenance.
