Experimental investigation into using lead to reduce vertical load transfer in infilled frames

Reinforced concrete structural frames can be infilled with masonry to produce structures that will effectively resist in-plane racking loading. Creep and shrinkage of the columns can however result in vertical load transfer onto the infill that is difficult to predict and which varies with time. Results from an experimental investigation into the use of a copper–tellurium lead layer to reduce this load transfer are presented. These results indicate that a lead layer can cause a significant reduction in load transfer, whilst not causing any deterioration in the short term racking performance of the infilled frame, and that the load transfer onto the infill can be predicted using finite element analyses.