Experimental study on the lateral load behaviour of GFRG infilled RC frames

Glass fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRG) panels are light-weight, load bearing wall panels that can be used for the rapid construction of affordable and eco-friendly houses. Numerous studies conducted worldwide have demonstrated the suitability of GFRG panels for constructing walls and slabs. These panels can also be used as infills in multi-storeyed framed construction and the experimental study reported in this paper is perhaps the first of its kind on the lateral load behaviour of GFRG infilled RC frames. Quasi-static cyclic lateral load tests were performed on two full scale 3 m x 3 m GFRG infilled RC framed specimens to gain insights into their lateral load behaviour, crack pattern and other performance parameters. The results confirmed that the failure of the specimens under lateral load primarily occurred in the infill wall, with extensive crack formation observed prior to yielding of the frame members. The experimental study highlighted that infilling the GFRG panels inside the RC frames significantly enhances the strength, stiffness and other performance parameters of the RC framed structure.