Model Proposal for Flexural FRP Strengthening of Masonry Walls

Abstract

<p> Nowadays there is an increasing need of reusing/recycling existing means. This also occurs in construction field where numerous ageing buildings and infrastructures need to be upgraded. Externally bonded FRP (<i>fiber reinforced polymer</i>) laminates has been proven a useful technique for structural strengthening not only for reinforced concrete structures but for others like masonry ones.</p><p> An ultimate limit state method to design and check unreinforced masonry sections with externally bonded FRP strengthening subject to bending and compression has been developed.Different design formulations are proposed with the aim of covering all flexural failure modes. The work focuses on determinate a “bond reduction factor” to assess the value of FRP design strain. This factor must prevent intermediate FRP debonding failure. The proposed factor is obtained by means of an extensive bending test database. The method has also been checked with the help of this database.</p>