Conceptualisation Studies on The Development of Adaptive Interface in Infilled Frames

Infilled frames are composite systems formed through a combination of interactive bounding frame and infilling wall. The properties related to the frame, infill and interface play a significant role in the behaviour of infilled frames. The stiffness and strength characteristics of the frame is enhanced due to infill-frame interaction but many times the ductility and failure characteristics are also altered undesirably. It would be ideal to think of an infilled frame whose degree of interaction can be changed according to actual requirements during its service thus resulting in an intelligent/adaptive system. In this work, preliminary studies are carried out to assess the feasibility of such an adaptive system. A typical two bay three storeyed infilled frame is studied theoretically using finite element modeling and also experimentally investigated under different conditions viz. (i) bare frame (ii) infilled frame with cement mortar interface (conventional frame) and (iii) infilled frame with pneumatic interface. It is concluded that the use of pneumatic medium as an adaptive interface is feasible. Its use reduces prestrains in infill without appreciably reducing the stiffness and ultimate load, when compared with conventional infilled frames with cement mortar interface.