Robustness of RC building structures with infill masonry walls: Tests on a purpose-built structure

Structural robustness is a significant property towards improving resilience of buildings, i.e. enhance their ability to withstand and recover from extreme events which often can cause local damage progressive collapse. It widely accepted that depends on the capacity structure activate alternative load paths (ALPs) after failure load-bearing elements, e.g. columns. Early evidence during World War II showed collapse some buildings was avoided by presence masonry infill walls. Subsequent studies focused this effect for cases sudden column removal although most these were analytical, numerical only looked at internal columns are generally less vulnerable accidental compared corner edge The aim study analyse how walls improve reinforced concrete (RC) in scenarios. A purpose-built 3D two-storey full-scale RC building with tested. contribution analysed terms of: (i) redistribution, (ii) ALPs, (iii) Dynamic Amplification Factors (DAFs) be applied linear-static analyses. test highly monitored 38 strain gauges, LVDTs 2 accelerometers register vertical lateral response. results had influence structural response activated predominant ALPs very small deflections.