Evaluating simplified macromodeling approaches of simulating infilled reinforced concrete frames with openings

Simulating the contribution of masonry infills on the reaction of reinforced concrete (RC) frames have been the concentration point of numerous numerical studies. However, the effects of openings are often neglected by technical codes, which may lead to sensible errors in predicting the seismic behavior of masonry infilled frames. In this study, the simplified macromodeling approaches of equivalent diagonal strut model (EDSM) and two-dimensional discrete macroelement model (DMEM) compared to a finite element model (FEM) and the influence of the modeling approach on the lateral response of infilled frames, with different percentages of openings, was investigated. A nonlinear static pushover analysis for conveying the terms of the monotonic loading procedure of the benchmark experimental program has been employed. Concerning the results, the stiffness of the masonry infilled frames by increasing the amount of opening was decreasing. The outcomes of this study may increase the knowledge of comparing the possible methods for modeling masonry infilled frames with openings.