Strctural behavior of infilled frames due to loss of support

The structural analysis of multi-story frames has great importance in < engineering field because it provides an adequate resistance for lateral and <b vertical load. The loss of soil support is the most important problem faced the in filled-frames under one or more footing due to escape of soil under it because of many reasons as increase of loads on the surrounding soil, vibrations due to dynamic loads or earthquakes, erosion of soil due to < ground water, mining works, tunnels and construction the pipelines. The aim of this thesis is to investigate numerically by finite element < method, the behavior of multi-story infilled frame with loss of soil support. Finite element analysis technique has a great versatility in analyzing < complex discontinuous system subjected to static loading. The method incorporates discontinuities in the analysis of discontinuous structures by the use of interface elements designed to simulate the actual behavior of the interfaces between contacting two bodies. A special nonlinear interface element permits frictional sliding, separation, and re bonding of the infill wall-frame interface is used. Based on the finite and infinite elements method, a computer program is developed to model the five-multi story by three-multi bay infilled frame-soil installation. In this study, many different parameters are considered, such as the effect of coefficient of friction between the infill wall and the frame, and the horizontal length of loss of soil support, which has significant effect on the frame internal forces and infill wall and soil internal stresses.