In-plane cyclic behaviour of half-timbered walls with fired brick infill

Abstract

In this paper, the in-plane cyclic behaviour of half-timbered walls with fired brick infill, widely used in traditional half-timbered buildings is studied. Structural analysis is performed by the finite element ANSYS code assuming non-linear behaviour of materials. Micro-modelling approach is used with different properties for the timber and the masonry. Fifty-seven different models are analysed and compared in terms of load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation. The results of analysis show that vertical and horizontal wooden members of the wooden framework have little effect on changing the load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation. Diagonal wooden members sharply increase the load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation. Openings reduce the load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation. Because the diagonal wooden members significantly increase the load-bearing capacity of the wooden frame at the appropriate arrangement of diagonal wooden members, it is possible to reduce the duty of the masonry infill in lateral load bearing.