Abstract
In the current research work, an attempt is made to increase the seismic capacity of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures by proposing a new composite material which can improve shear strength and deformation capacity of URM wall systems. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) having high tensile and shear stiffness can significantly increase in-plane and out-of-plane strength of masonry walls, but, inherently, FRP strengthened wall systems exhibit brittle failure under extreme seismic loading. Polypropylene (PP-band) is a low cost material with sufficient ductility and deformation capacity. Keeping in view the behavior of FRP and PP-band, a composite of FRP and PP-band is proposed for retrofitting of URM walls. Mechanical behavior of the proposed composite material is assessed by carrying out an in-plane diagonal compression test and an out-of-plane bending test on twenty-five 1/4-scaled masonry wall panels. Experimental plan for each panel, URM, PP-band retrofitted, FRP retrofitted and FRP + PP-band retrofitted masonry, is diagonal compression test and three-point bending test. Experimental results have determined that FRP + PP-band composite increased, not only the initial peak strength, but also the ductility, deformation capacity and residual strength of URM wall systems.
Highlights
Masonry is a historical construction material and has served as the first choice of people for many centuries
Experiments were conducted in three main phases, material test, diagonal compression tests and out-of-plane bending tests on 1/4-scale retrofitted and non-retrofitted masonry panels
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is an expensive material with high tensile strength but with low tensile failure strain ranging from 2%–4%, whereas polypropylene band (PP-band) is a low cost material with low tensile strength and higher tensile failure strain
Summary
Masonry is a historical construction material and has served as the first choice of people for many centuries. Local availability of masonry raw materials and having lower cost of manufacturing has made it a popular construction material. Historically unreinforced masonry (URM) structures have suffered extensive damage during earthquakes. To increase the seismic capacity of low earthquake-resistant masonry structures is one of the key issues for earthquake disaster mitigation and for reduction of casualties. Seismic retrofitting reduces casualties and damage to buildings during earthquakes, and the costs of first aid activities, rescue, rubble removal and permanent residential reconstruction to help and support re-establishment of daily life [2]. Seismic capacity of URM buildings depends on the ability of in-plane walls to effectively transfer lateral forces to the foundations [4,5]
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