A strengthening method using steel fiber-reinforced mortar (SFRM), proposed for the seismic retrofit of masonry buildings, is verified experimentally in this study. The SFRM is overlaid on masonry walls directly, which is possible to implement while the building is occupied for residence. First, tests of workability and material strengths were conducted for SFRM itself in order to find SFRM mixing ratios appropriate for overlay construction and strengthening. Then, masonry prisms were produced using two types of bricks and strengthened with SFRM for the chosen mixing ratios and test variables such as the number of overlaid sides and the fiber volume fraction. Compressive strength tests and diagonal tension tests for those specimens were conducted. Both compressive and shear strengths were improved the most highly by overlaying the SFRM with a fiber volume fraction of 1.3%, which is the highest among the test variables, on both sides. Overlaid SFRM tends to be detached without cracking almost at the maximum strength in both compression and diagonal tension tests. For red clay brick prisms, the compressive and shear strengths increased by up to 61% and 138%, respectively. For concrete brick prisms, the compressive and shear strengths increased by up to 26% and 67%. Finally, a design formula for the shear strength of strengthened masonry prisms is compared with the experimental results, and it is observed that the design formula gives slightly higher results.
A technique for strengthening masonry walls by plastering with amorphous steel fiber-reinforced mortar (ASFRM) is investigated through compressive and diagonal tension tests for masonry prisms. The vertical joint between masonry units was not completely filled with mortar to mimic poor workmanship, which is typically reflected in low-cost buildings. The test variables include the number and thickness of mortar overlays, fiber volume fraction, and additional reinforcement using glass fiber mesh or shear connectors. In most strengthened specimens, the ASFRM is not damaged but separated from the masonry prisms after its maximum strength is reached. Additional tests for the bond strength between the ASFRM overlay and masonry surface are conducted to evaluate its contribution to the strengthening effects. Based on experimental observations, equations for predicting the compressive and diagonal tension strengths of masonry prisms strengthened with ASFRM are proposed. The compressive strength can be predicted more accurately by considering the asymmetrical distribution of compressive stress when strengthening is performed on only one side. The diagonal tension strength after strengthening can be predicted by incorporating the contribution of the bond strength between the ASFRM overlay and masonry prism to the initial strength.
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