Analysis of 5 Floor Brick Masonry Building, Type 77/5

Masonry structures represent one of the oldest building concepts available. Masonry construction is a traditional, widely used, extremely flexible, and economical construction method, with considerable potential for future developments. Masonry is a heterogeneous material, due to its composition of: Complete or perforated blocks ; beds of continuous mortar; Nodes (joints) interrupted, or continuous.


Introduction
A masonry structure represents a behavior highly dependent on the reaction of the constituent elements: BRICK AND MORTAR. Brick had an elastic behavior in tensile and compressive, while the mortar doesn't behave like that. However, we can call it a homogeneous anisotropic material in terms of resistance and deformation.

The main results of LINEAR ANALYSIS
In the first steps of this analysis are identified the problems the building present, which are: 1-Displacement larger than allowed 2-Periods that exceed twice the recommended periods.

Attempts and Recommendations for the Improvement of Displacements and Periods
To improve the 2 main parameters of the building, the displacements and the periods, several hypothetical ATTEMPTS were performed, which assume that we have the 38 opportunity to change the different physical masonry parameters. The realized attempts are given in the following:

Attempt 1
Based on the layered option provided by Etabs, it was assumed that we add outside masonry a 75 mm thick concrete cladding. A version with 2 "integration points" has been accepted.
The results of this attempt are: -The displacements are: Uy = 101.27mm and Ux = -28.8 mm!! -The period in Mode 1 is 0.677 sec: The improvement is insignificant, the building continues to be flexible, the displacements in the plastic phase are 10.10 cm * 1.5 (ductility) = 15.15 cm, while they should be 7.2 cm!!! The period increases, also the displacements, although this increase is insignificant. We emphasize that the change of the integration point parameter does not affect the period and displacements of the building.

Attempt 2
The same building is assumed to be built by concrete walls C30 / 37. Improvements are insignificant, the change in displacements and periods for concrete structure is practically very small. That is, even the building is idealized with concrete elements, of high physical parameters, it's vulnerable again.
The replacement of the brick masonry with concrete, in this attempt, is realized to avoid any doubt regarding the idealization of brick masonry in "thin shell" elements, on ETABs, how they can be: -A consequence of wrong acceptances on masonry parameters.
-Incorrect acceptance of masonry partition on shell elements.
Despite the fact that concrete has much higher physical characteristics than brick masonry, again the improvement on the above parameters, Periods and Displacement, are insensitive.
Several other attempts didn't give any target result. For shortening the article, I'm referring to them only one, that with the use of Fiber-Glasses. In my opinion, reinforcement with FRP, in addition to the insignificant change of parameters, has high economic costs, for many reasons, which are not subject to this treaty.

Attempt 4: COLUMNS only on the first 2 floors
This is also the last attempt, which gave a satisfactory result.
In this attempt, finally, the Periods and Displacements have met the intended Target In the plastic phase, these displacements will be: 1. Finally, we have a solution according to which the building has the displacements and periods within the recommendations of the Eurocode, consequently in case of an earthquake, the lives of the people lodging on them, are not endangered.
2. Is the most possible economical solution, it relies on the use of traditional construction materials, such as concrete and steel, especially when a relatively large number of buildings needs to be reinforced, in a country with limited economic opportunities, such as Albania.
3. Improves stresses in the wall panels. [ they are not cited in this article].
4. The columns are all located in the perimeter, where their realization is more likely to be carried out even in conditions when people live within the dwellings they own.

Conclusion
The study of this building started a long time before 26.11.2019 when Albania was affected by an earthquake of 6.3 Richter magnitude, which caused over 50 victims and a lot of material damage. One of the buildings affected by this earthquake was this kind of building. Therefore, the study and the exact results for the way of improvement of this building is an important task not only of this study but also of other studies that will be undertaken in the future, by other colleagues, in the following.
I think that an important factor in the fact that the periods of this building are high, for the version of brick masonry 25 and 38 cm, or in the version with the layered wall, is the own weight of the masonry!