In-plane retrofitting of masonry structures by using GFRP strips in the Bedjoints

Abstract

Many unreinforced masonry structures were vulnerable in the past earthquakes and required retrofitting. However, the vulnerability of masonry structures could solve by providing numerous retrofitting approaches, scarcity of appropriate methods that may provide a solution for the historical masonry structures with lesser effects on their façade is vehemently sensible. In this study, two one-third scale masonry wall specimens made by clay bricks were tested under constant vertical and cyclic lateral loading. The specimens consist of an unreinforced wall and a wall retrofitted by GFRP strips. This study investigates the seismic behavior of unreinforced masonry walls before and after using GFRP strips on their bedjoints. To this purpose, various patterns of using GFRP strips have been studied by simplified micro-modeling. The consequence indicates that the proposed retrofitting technique could improve the lateral strength and stiffness of the unreinforced masonry wall along with a considerable increase in the energy dissipation and ductility content, which leads to making a change in the behavior of the wall from brittle to ductile failure. The proposed method could apply to the modern historical structures in which cement mortar has been used as an adhesive between the masonry layers.