Experimental investigation of RC frames with masonry infills decoupled from the frame using innovative rubber connection

Reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures with masonry infill walls are widely used in regions susceptible to earthquakes. During seismic events, infill walls are subjected to both in-plane and out-of-plane forces, often resulting in significant damage. Research has highlighted the combined impact of these forces, which not only endangers the infill walls but also the structur-al integrity of the building. Conventional mortar-based connections frequently fail under such stresses, leading to the collapse of the walls and increased shear forces on RC columns. To tackle this problem, a novel system called INODIS was introduced, utilizing recycled rubber strips to isolate the infill wall from the RC frame. This innovative approach was tested on full-scale models under quasi-static cyclic in-plane and out-of-plane loads. Initial cracking was ob-served at 2% drift, demonstrating the system’s ability to limit wall damage and reduce repair costs. Further testing under actual earthquake conditions on a shaking table revealed that a drift of 2.6% was achieved without any damage to the infill walls. A detailed experimental pro-gram confirmed that the INODIS system enhances seismic resilience while offering economic advantages by reducing the need for excessive reinforcement and concrete in structural com-ponents. The straightforward design approach ensures ease of implementation in practical ap-plications.