## 3 Results and Discussion
### Assessment of Building Base Shear and Displacement (Drift)  
The results were analyzed in this study, focusing on building base shear and displacement (drift ratio), to determine the feasibility of implementing SIM infill panels in the locations of each seismic risk category. The base shear was derived from the horizontal reaction force at the supports, while drift was determined from the horizontal displacement output obtained from the Strand7 analysis. Building drift is defined as the horizontal displacement at the top of the building relative to the horizontal displacement at the ground surface. As per AS 1170.4-2007 standards, the drift ratio of each story should not exceed 1.5% [14]. Table 5 presents the base shear and building drift for all cases obtained from the Strand7 analyses. Figure 18 illustrates the variation of the drift ratio for all cases. Notably, as expected, traditional masonry exhibits minimal displacement (drift) compared to both types of SIM panels. This is attributed to the stiff response of traditional masonry elements to lateral loads due to their inherent rigidity. In scenarios with high base shear, panels attempt to dissipate earthquake-induced energy by forming structural cracks, which may lead to building failure. SIM panels, however, allow more displacement than traditional masonry panels, reducing the base shear force and mitigating cracks in the building. Furthermore, it is observed that, for a given location, base shear increases with higher importance levels. Additionally, base shear shows higher values for deep/soft soil compared to shallow soil. It is crucial to evaluate which SIM panel reached its maximum frictional capacity in different cases. Figure 18: Variation of drift ratio of different structures for all load cases. The percentage of SIM panel frictional capacity for each case is detailed in Table 6. The assessment of SIM panel frictional capacity is based on the ratio of the required frictional resistance for a given load case to the maximum capacity of the panel's frictional resistance, as written as \"FULL\" in Table 6. To assess the contribution of SIM panels to resisting the lateral load, a decision was made to allocate two-thirds of the horizontal equivalent static design force at each level of the infilled frame to be resisted by the frictional force developed on the bed joints of the panel, considering its capacity [23]. The remaining one-third of the force would be borne by the structural frame. This allocation methodology was employed to ensure a balanced and optimized distribution of forces, considering both the inherent capabilities of the SIM panels and the structural integrity of the frame. It is noted that the maximum capacity of the frictional force for each panel is 32.78 kN. As anticipated, the panels at Level 1 demonstrate a higher resistance to lateral forces compared to those at Level 2 and Level 3. This discrepancy is due to the higher horizontal static load at Level 1 than at other levels. Notably, in the Newcastle region, no panel reached its maximum capacity, while all Level 1 panels reached their full capacity on Macquarie Island. A more in-depth analysis of the results is provided based on the specific locations. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Load Case**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Location**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Frictional Capacity of the SIM Panels (Type 1 and Type 2)**} \\ \cline{3-6}  & & **Level 3 (L3) Panel** & **Level 2 (L2) Panel** & **Level 1 (L1) Panel** \\ \hline
1 & Newcastle & 12\% & 22\% & 27\% \\
2 & Newcastle & 19\% & 34\% & 42\% \\
3 & Newcastle & 15\% & 28\% & 36\% \\
4 & Newcastle & 23\% & 44\% & 59\% \\
5 & Newcastle & 19\% & 39\% & 56\% \\
6 & Newcastle & 31\% & 61\% & 82\% \\
7 & Dowerin & 18\% & 39\% & 54\% \\
8 & Dowerin & 32\% & 62\% & 85\% \\
9 & Dowerin & 23\% & 51\% & 65\% \\
10 & Dowerin & 33\% & 79\% & FULL \\
11 & Dowerin & 37\% & 71\% & 94\% \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 6: Contribution of SIM panels to resisting the lateral load in Strand7 analysis.