Infill walls

Definition

Infill walls are non-structural walls that are typically made of materials like brick, concrete, or gypsum board, and are used to fill the spaces between structural frames in buildings. While they primarily serve as partitions or enclosures, they also contribute to the overall stability and performance of the building during events like earthquakes, impacting how forces are distributed throughout the structure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Infill walls can affect the dynamic behavior of a structure during an earthquake by providing additional stiffness and strength.
2. The type and material of infill walls can significantly influence a building's overall seismic performance, with masonry infills being more effective than lightweight materials.
3. Infill walls are often not designed to carry structural loads, but their interaction with the frame can lead to unintended consequences during seismic events.
4. Proper detailing and connection of infill walls to the structural frame are essential for optimizing their performance in earthquakes.
5. Weaknesses in infill walls can lead to failure modes such as out-of-plane collapse, which can pose significant risks during seismic activity.

Review Questions

• How do infill walls contribute to the stability of a building during seismic events?
  • Infill walls play a crucial role in enhancing the stability of a building during seismic events by providing additional stiffness and strength. Their presence helps distribute lateral forces throughout the structure, influencing how it responds to ground shaking. However, if not properly designed or connected, infill walls can lead to unexpected failure modes, emphasizing the importance of considering their impact in earthquake engineering.
• Discuss the potential issues that may arise from the use of infill walls in buildings designed for earthquake resistance.
  • Using infill walls in earthquake-resistant buildings can present several challenges. One key issue is that these walls may not be designed as load-bearing elements; thus, their performance under seismic loads can be unpredictable. Additionally, if infill walls are not adequately connected to the structural frame, they may experience out-of-plane failure during an earthquake, leading to safety hazards. It's vital for engineers to address these concerns when designing structures with infill walls.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of different materials used for infill walls in terms of seismic performance and overall building safety.
  • The effectiveness of infill wall materials significantly affects seismic performance and overall building safety. For instance, masonry infill provides higher stiffness and better energy dissipation compared to lightweight materials like drywall or plasterboard. This difference means that buildings with masonry infills are often better equipped to withstand seismic forces. However, engineers must also consider factors such as connection details and material quality to ensure optimal performance under seismic loads. Ultimately, choosing the right material for infill walls is critical for enhancing a building's resilience to earthquakes.

Related terms

Load-bearing walls: Walls that support the weight of the structure above them and transfer loads to the foundation.

Seismic retrofitting: Techniques used to strengthen existing structures to withstand seismic forces more effectively.

Shear walls: Vertical walls designed to resist lateral forces, such as those from wind or earthquakes, enhancing the stability of a structure.