Study on Seismic Performance of Composite Structures with Reinforced Concrete Columns and Masonry Walls

While incorporating constructional columns into masonry walls enhances structural integrity, their seismic bearing capacity remains relatively low. In contrast, composite structures formed through the integration of large-section concrete columns with masonry walls can significantly improve seismic performance. This study employed an integrated approach of model testing and numerical analysis to investigate the seismic behavior of composite structures consisting of large-section reinforced concrete columns and brick masonry walls. Specifically, three scaled model tests were carried out, and finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on six full-scale models, with the aim of elucidating the failure mechanism and mechanical properties of such composite structures. The results show that concrete columns effectively inhibit crack propagation in the walls, and the bearing capacity and ductility of the composite structures are significantly enhanced. Furthermore, a formula for the calculation of the horizontal bearing capacity of the composite structures was proposed based on the failure modes observed in the tests. The bearing capacity of four types of composite structures is calculated, and the differences between the calculated results and the FEA results do not exceed 10%, which provides a reference for the calculation of the lateral bearing capacity of composite structures.