Seismic Strengthening of Partial Infilled RC Frame with Upper Opening Using Ferrocement and Expanded Metal Mesh

Authors

  • Rattawit Amornpunyapat Sripatum University
  • Phaiboon Panyakapo Sripatum University
  • Anat Ruangrassamee Chulalongkorn University
  • Pochara Kruavit King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4186/ej.2025.29.8.167

Keywords:

partial infilled RC frame, upper opening, ferrocement, expanded metal mesh, seismic strengthening

Abstract

Severe damage often occurs in typical low-rise commercial buildings with reinforced concrete (RC) infilled frames featuring openings on the ground floor during earthquakes. Common failure modes include shear failure due to short-column behavior, as well as flexural and shear failures at the ends of columns and beams. To improve the shear and flexural strength of beam-column joints and enhance the lateral strength and ductility of infilled masonry walls, this study proposes a strengthening method for partial infilled RC frame with upper opening. An analytical model was also developed to predict the lateral strength and ductility of the frames. This research investigates the strengthening behavior of partial infilled RC frame with upper opening, reinforced using ferrocement and expanded metal mesh. The specimens were subjected to constant vertical loads and cyclic lateral loads. The experimental study involved two full-scale, single-story and single-bay frames: (1) a control specimen with an upper panel opening (UPF-C) and (2) a specimen with an upper panel opening strengthened using ferrocement and expanded metal mesh (UPF-S).The results demonstrate that the UPF-S specimen exhibited greater lateral resistance, stiffness, and ductility compared to the control specimen (UPF-C). The strengthening method effectively mitigated damage to the RC infill frame by shifting the failure behavior of beam-column joints from shear failure to ductile failure. Finally, the experimental results were analyzed and compared with nonlinear analytical models. The proposed model yielded predictions closely aligned with the experimental findings, confirming its reliability and consistency.

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Author Biographies

Rattawit Amornpunyapat
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Department of Civil Engineering and Town Development, School of Engineering,

Sripatum University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Phaiboon Panyakapo
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Department of Civil Engineering and Town Development, School of Engineering,

Sripatum University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Anat Ruangrassamee
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Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Pochara Kruavit
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Department of Civil Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok 10800, Thailand

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Published In
Vol 29 No 8, Aug 31, 2025
How to Cite
[1]
R. Amornpunyapat, P. Panyakapo, A. Ruangrassamee, and P. Kruavit, “Seismic Strengthening of Partial Infilled RC Frame with Upper Opening Using Ferrocement and Expanded Metal Mesh”, Eng. J., vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 167-184, Aug. 2025.
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