Theoretical characterization of infill panels basing on compressive and shear tests

This paper discusses the orthotropic behavior of a kind of infill panels: in particular slender clay brick panels are analyzed in order to calibrate the mechanical characteristics required in force-displacement relationship for an infilled RC frame. Two different kinds of clay brick panels (120 mm thick with semi-solid bricks and 80 mm thick with hollow bricks) have been tested in the two orthogonal (in plane) principal directions and in the diagonal direction. Components were tested too: bricks in compression and mortar both in compression and bending. The results of this test sequence were discussed in the past in terms of components-to-panel compressive strength ratio. In this paper test results in terms of orthotropic plane behavior are discussed and some criteria to define the elastic characteristic are pointed out.