Reserved strength of reinforced concrete buildings with masonry walls

The case of a six-story reinforced concrete building that sustained the destruction of three columns is investigated. In this building, damage was limited to some cracks in the walls near the targeted zone. Other parts of the building remained intact. The building was analyzed using two different models. In one model, masonry walls were treated as nonstructural elements represented by applied loads. In the other model, walls were represented by membrane elements connected to concrete frames by link elements. Analysis was carried out for two cases, before and after damage. The study revealed that such buildings possess potential reserved strength. They have the ability to change their designated load path. The role of masonry walls is emphasized. In this case, masonry walls worked as a backup system that prevented major collapse of the building. It is estimated that, under normal conditions, masonry walls increase the building strength by 48%.