Seismic Resilience Evaluation and Improvement of Confined Masonry Structures Using Finite Element Analysis and the N2 Method

Confined masonry combines concrete columns and beams with brick walls to form a building structural system. Confined masonry offers good seismic performance, easy construction, and component reuse, making it popular in earthquake-prone areas. Meanwhile, The N2 method is a nonlinear static analysis technique designed to assess the performance and load-carrying capacity of building structures under seismic loads. By integrating elements of structural dynamic analysis with pushover analysis, it provides a simplified yet reliable tool for evaluating structural behavior. This method is particularly effective for seismic design and evaluating a building's ability to withstand earthquake forces. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the seismic resilience of the current confined masonry building by utilizing finite element software and pertinent regulations. The examination identifies design flaws and evaluates the seismic capacity of the structure using the N2 method. Furthermore, the study presents corrective measures, which are re-evaluated and contrasted against the finite element software and N2 method outcomes. The results demonstrate that the confined masonry building, improved according to the recommendations in this paper, ultimately meets the seismic requirements of relevant regulations and is deemed feasible through N2 analysis.