Fixings that Ensure the Free Movement of the Structure for Resistance in Relation to Non-Structural Walls

Abstract

Recent earthquakes have confirmed that non-structural walls interacting mainly with frame structures are severely damaged during seismic actions endangering human lives. The ongoing life after earthquakes and major costs for rebuilding are deeply affected. In order to avoid this kind of drawbacks, the present paper suggests the introduction of a set of joints between the structure and the nonstructural closing and division walls. The joints should observe the following: joints will be designed to provide free development of displacements in the plane of the walls with no major interactions in the structure; joints will be designed to provide transmission of the seismic forces acting perpendicularly to the non-structural walls towards the main structure. This paper will include several conclusions concerning the admission, constraint or removal of interactions between the structure and the closing and division walls.