Simplified evaluation method for seismic capacity of existing RC building considering masonry infill strength.

This paper presents the simplified method for evaluating the seismic performance of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings following The Japan Building Disaster Prevention Association standard. In this method, the seismic performance of RC buildings was described in lateral strength and ductility indexes of vertical members such as columns, short columns, and masonry walls. The simplified method was applied to assess the seismic performance of an existing building that survived the September 2009 West Sumatra earthquake. The evaluated building was a three-story RC building that used brick masonry walls as the infill. The shear stress of the brick infill was obtained based on the test results on the RC frame with brick infill under static lateral load. The analysis reveals the seismic performance of the building as the reason that the building could survive the earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]