"COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM WITH AND WITHOUT

RETROFITTING ELEMENTS"
SUBHEKSHYA SHRESTHA,ME Structure Engineering,

Kathmandu University,Dhulikhel,Nepal

1.Introduction
The masonry structure and its seismic response depends on the quality of connections between the
different structural elements and on the horizontal diaphragm in plane stiffness. Many low rise buildings
in Nepal are typically of timber on masonry walls (i e of stones, bricks).URM buildings possess potential
risk of failure which is brittle because of no positive anchorage between URM walls and timber
diaphragms. Consequently ,the diaphragm is light and more flexible to vertical elements and hence no
lateral support is provided to URM walls.The walls will behave independently and local out of plane
collapse mechanisms may be observed which involve overturning of walls.

2.Problem Statement and Research Need

Many masonry buildings are typically constructed of timber diaphragms because wood is available on
abundance and is more environment friendly. The strengthening of old masonry buildings is important
issue and deserve attention from the state authorities for its preservation because these buildings
epitomize the craft of past generation masons even and it has been observed over time that they possess
extreme risk during earthquake like event due to its non engineered connection. These structures add
cultural value for the region on where the historical dwelling is located.

Old masonry diaphragm relies on wood as a sophisticated material which recently has small engineering
principles applied to fabrication. However, the inadequacy of new element added or retrofitting strategies
and techniques in the form of rigid diaphragm, i.e. ring beams, columns (RCC),steel connections etc
inserted within the depth of walls has the effect such as increased level of mass and stiffness and this
should be correctly assessed. Masonry is highly nonlinear even for low levels of stress. Hence,as inplane
stiffness of horizontal diaphragms often influence out of plane wall ,the floor to wall connection should
be correctly assessed.

This study focus on forces developed in the connection between diaphragm and wall.Flexible diaphragms
connected to heavy and stiff walls induces intermediate coupling of in-plane walls modifying the behavior
of the in-plane walls. Previous research dating back to 2004 at Newzealand where it was seen that out of
plane collapse of wall occurred due to tearing off of bolt connection to wall –diaphragm . Hence, a need
to rehabilitate the flexible diaphragms to masonry wall connection using accurate and compatible retrofit
strategy in such a way that the connection goes to non-linear behavior but the unit stays within elastic
behavior is required.

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3.Objectives
The main objective of my study were

 To evaluate the retrofit strategies and baselines (load deflection behavior) for diaphragm stiffness.
 To evaluate the flexible diaphragm drift and displacement.
 To identify and verify parameters of contact elements that represents connection for numerical
modeling of whole system.
 The modeling of retrofitted anchored elements in numerical modeling will be quantified with the
experimental studies of the past, including studies of pullout, ductility, energy dissipation.

4.Significance and Relevance

This comparison and discussion on seismic retrofit measures of providing adequate connectivity in
unreinforced masonry typical wooden flooring to wall will help get victims of earthquake disaster to
quickly settle back to their strengthened home and renew their lifestyle. The associated cost of demolition
and replacement of these old masonry buildings are not generally flexibe due to magnitude of effort and
retrofitting building will be cheaper and safer choice for under developing countries like Nepal. This
study is hoped to inspire future as well as encourage retrofit and its strategies targeted to focus mostly on
the typical building typologies in Nepal and further this new system can be fully integrated into Nepali
code and design specifications.Numerical results from the model as simulated can be accurately used in
producing the behavior of interest.

5.Methodology and Approach

The basic aim of this research is to compare the behavior of flexible diaphragm with and without
retrofitting elements,the methodology adopted is elaborated with various works:

 Field Visit to remote areas of Sindhupalchowk/Nuwakot/Makwanpur and data collection of

evidence of the one bay two storey brick building damaged during Post Gorkha quake and the
damage grade of these houses. Also the historical construction details, materials, boundary
condition and stress state of floors and wall connection will be studied.

 The measured building and its component is expected to be modeled in SAP2000 giving the real
sense as far as possible and the approach can be modeling suitable connection type(rigid,partially
rigid,flexible) based on the connection as observed from site and different literature.

 The inverted triangular distribution of lateral force on floor may be modified to uniform
distribution as Kappos A J et al (2002) suggested the need to apply concentrated seismic force at
the mass center of timber floor .The overall stiffness of diaphragm is given by contribution of in
plan flexural stiffness of sole diaphragm and stiffness of diaphragm wall shear connectors.

 The material parameters for wood will be extracted from some previous study, the connectivity’s
cyclic behavior and characteristic were captured by multi linear plastic pivot hysteretic property
in SAP2000 proposed by Dowell et al. (1998).

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  Learning about ABAQUS software for proper modeling of retrofitted connection and parameter.

 This study will undergo the non linear static method because since masonry is highly non
linear,linearity could not account for stress levels for introducing retrofitting element in the
structure.The non-linear force-deformation relationship properties have to be defined using multi
linear force deformation curve and hysteresis parameter.The parameters for different element
property uses parametric study datas that covered a range of roof diaphragm properties and
building aspect ratios as per different experimental and research studies conducted earlier.

 The retrofitted element and the connection zone sufficiency are based on ATC, as well as IS 800-
2007, and NBC 202,and the standards should ultimately be used to provide adequate strength.

6.Task Schedule
Month, Year (2018)
S/N Particulars Jan Feb Ma Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
18 18 r 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
Selection of topic and
1.
proposal submit/defense
2. Literature Review
3. Proposal submit/defense
4. Preliminary design
5. Mid-term defense
FEM modeling/analysis in
6.
SAP2000 and ABAQUS.
7. End semester defense
Final semester mid-term
8.
defense
Result interpretation/re-
9.
analysis/validation.
10. Preparation of final report
Final proposal defense and
11.
submission of thesis

7.Expected Outcome and Deliverables

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the flexible and rigid diaphragm behavior under seismic
loading.

 The non-linear analysis focused on describing the stiffness and strength degradation of wood
based structure which gives hysteretic behavior of the considered connection and diaphragm can
be simplified.
 This study served to demonstrate the applicability of proposed retrofit models for application in
type similar buildings in performance based design and quantification of already experimented
data analytically and numerical modeling thus optimizing the right strategic choice of retrofitting.

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8.Budget
S/N Particulars Units Price per unit Total (NRs.)
(Nos.) (NRs.)
1. Books, study material, journals 1 4,500/- 4,500/-
2. Field Visit to one of the 8,000/- 8,000/-
places..(Makwanpur,Nuwakot,Sindhupalchowk)
3. Government/Community 3,000/- 3,000/-
Interaction/Documents
4. Paper, printings, photocopy, stationary - - 3,000/-
5. Software, tools, CDs 1 1,500/- 1,500/-
6. Report and documentation 1 5,000/- 5,000/-
7. Final thesis bind, print 4 2,000/- 8,000/-
Total 33,000/-
Miscellaneous @ 10% of Total 3,300/-
Grand Total 36,300/-

9.References
[1] - Taghdi, M., Bruneau, M., Saatcioglu, M., (2000). Seismic retrofitting of low-rise masonry and
concrete walls using steel strips. Journal of structural engineering , September 2000, pg: 1017-1025.

[2] – Goodwin, C., Tonks, G., Ingham, J., (2011). Retrofit techniques for seismic improvement of URM
buildings. Journal of the Structural Engineering Society New Zealand Inc., Volume 24 No. 1 April 2011,
pg: 30-45.

[3] - Moreira, S., Ramos, L. F., Oliveira, D. V., Lourenço, P. B., Mateus, L., (2014). Developing a
seismic retrofitting solution for wall to floor connections of URM buildings with wood diaphragms.9 th
International Masonry Conference, Guimarães 2014.

[4] - FEMA P-774 (2009). Unreinforced Masonry Buildings and Earthquakes Developing Successful Risk
Reduction Programs. October 2009

[5] – Azarbakht, A.,Mazhari, R., Ghaemi, M.S., Shahri M.R., Analooei, A.,Boozari, F., (2014). Seismic
assessment of unreinforced masonry walls based on fem micro models. Second European Conference on
Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Istanbul, August 2014.

[6] - Amiraslanzadeh, R., Ikemoto, T.,Miyajima, M., (2012). A Comparative Study on Seismic
Retrofitting Methods for Unreinforced Masonry Brick Walls. Fifteenth world conference on earthquake
engineering Lisbon, Portugal, 2012.

[7] – Brandford Cross, W., Jones, N.P., (1993). A finite element model for wood diaphragm and wall
interaction in unreinforced brick buildings. Transactions on the Built Environment vol 4 © 1993 WIT
Press. ISSN 1743-3509.

[8] - Caldová, E., Blesák,L., Wald, F., Kloiber, M., Urushadze, S., Vymlátil, P., (2014). Behaviour of
timber and steel fibre reinforced concrete composite constructions with screwed connections. Wood
Research Vol. 59 (4): 2014, 639-660.

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[9] – Nakamura,Y.,Derakhshan,H.,Magenes,G.and Griffith,M.C (2016). Improved seismic analysis of
unreinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms.Journal of Earthquake Engineering,published
online 27 July 2016.DOI:10.1080/13632469.2016.1190799.

[10] – Korany Y.,Drysdale R.,Chidiac S ,(2001). Retrofit of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings:The State-
Of-The-Art.9th Canadian Masonry Symposium (Book)

[11] –Piazza M.,Ingham J.(2013).Role of Timber Diaphragms in the Seismic Response of Unreinforced
Masonry (URM) Buildings.University of Trento.Engineering of Civil and Mechanical Structural Systems.

[12] – NBC 202:1994 . Mandatory Rules of Thumb Load Bearing Masonry,Department of Urban
Development and Building Construction,Kathmandu ,Nepal

[13] –IS 800:2007.General Construction in Steel –Code of Practice(Third Revision),New Delhi,India.

[14] –Mangold N B(2014).Investigating the Effects of Roof Diaphragm Stiffness on the Force
Transferred at the Wall and Diaphragm Interface in Low-Rise Masonry Construction.Masters of Science
in Civil Engineering.Washington State University.Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering.May 2014.