Experimental Investigations of Cement Clay Interlocking Brick Masonry Structures Strengthened with CFRP and Cement-Sand Mortar

Abstract

Many masonry structures are constructed with cement clay interlocking brick (CCIB) due to its added benefits. Recent research has demonstrated the vulnerability of brick masonry walls against seismic loading. Various strengthening materials and techniques are extensively used to improve the structural behavior of brick walls. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are the most popular strengthening material due to their advantages of easy application, lightweight qualities, and superior tensile strength. The current research work aimed to explore the cost-effective solutions and feasibility of CFRP composite-based strengthening techniques to improve the load-bearing capacity of CCIB walls. Various configurations and combinations of strengthening materials were investigated to customize the cost of repair and strengthening. The experimental results indicated that CFRP composites in combination with cement-sand (CS) mortar are an efficient strengthening material to enhance the strength and ultimate deflection of CCIB walls. The ultimate load-bearing capacity and axial deformation of the strengthened CCIB wall (using two layers of CFRP strips and CS mortar of 10 mm thickness) remained 171% and 190% larger than the unstrengthened CCIB wall. The conclusions of this study are expected to enhance the seismic performance of masonry buildings in developing countries. It should be noted that due to the reduced number of tested specimens, the results to be assumed as general considerations need a wider experimental campaign and a large numbers of tests for each strengthening typology.

Numerical Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Strengthened Concrete Culverts against Water-Induced Corrosion

“…The idea of using CFRP strengthening techniques including CFRP sheets is common in structural elements, such as beams and others [16,[25][26][27]. Moon et al [25] examined RC beams with unidirectional/bidirectional CFRP layouts and wrapped CFRP strips.…”

Experimental and numerical investigations of masonry ‎ beams performance under bending loads

“…Additionally, CFRP bars possess outstanding structural properties such as high tensile strength, a high strength-toweight ratio, and non-corrosive, non-magnetic attributes. The strength-to-weight ratio of CFRP bars is 10-15 times higher than that of steel bars [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Using non-corrosive FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) bars in such constructions has proven advantageous in overcoming the issue of steel corrosion and effectively enhancing durability [11].…”

Experimental and Analytical Studies on Low-Cost Glass-Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer-Composite-Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams: A Comparison with Carbon/Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

“…The debonding of FRP from the concrete surface has been a typical failure [7]. Since the 1990s, numerous studies have employed FRPs for the strengthening of RC members [8][9][10][11]. The findings suggest that when beams are strengthened, the primary modes of shear failure are either through the tensile rupture of the FRP or due to the debonding of the FRP from the sides of the RC beam.…”