Seismic Analysis of Interlocking Blocks in Walls

Generally RC framed structures are designed without regards to structural action of masonry infill walls present. Masonry infill walls are widely used as partitions. These buildings are generally designed as framed structures without regard to structural action of masonry infill walls. They are considered as non- structural elements. RC frame building with open first storey is known as soft storey, which performs poorly during strong earthquake shaking. Past earthquakes are evident that collapses due to soft storeys are most often in RC buildings. In the soft storey, columns are severely stressed and unable to provide adequate shear resistance during the earthquake. Hence a combination of two structural system components i.e. Rigid frames and RC shear walls or Rigid frames and Bracings leads to a highly efficient system in which shear wall and bracings resist the majority of the lateral loads and the frame supports majority of the gravity loads. From the above studies it has been observed that non-linear pushover analysis provide good estimate of global as well as local inelastic deformation demands and also reveals design weakness that may remain hidden in an elastic analysis and also the performance level of the structure. Storey drifts are found within the limit as specified by code (IS: 1893-2002 part-1) in both linear static, linear dynamic and non-linear static analysis.