Finite Element Modelling of Masonry Wall Retrofitted with Combination of Textile-Reinforced Mortar and Thermal Insulation

Abstract

This work presents a finite element (FE) model for retrofitted masonry walls. The masonry wall was retrofitted with a combination of textile reinforced mortar (TRM) and thermal insulation. For finite element analysis, ABAQUS software has been implemented. The subject of this study is an investigation of the effectiveness of FE method in the prediction of strength and deformation capacity of retrofitted masonry walls, in addition to studying the effects of retrofitting materials on the capacity of masonry walls. Concrete damage plasticity (CDP) was implemented by utilizing the macro model approach. After the development of the FEM model, the same case studies have been carried out, and the results have been compared with experimental ones. Wall specimens tested under out-of-plane cyclic loading has been selected for FEM analysis. In the FE analysis, five parameters have been considered: a) unreinforced masonry (URM) wall as a control specimen; b) only TRM was applied to both sides of the wall without thermal insulation panels; c) TRM and thermal insulation were applied to both sides of the wall; d) only thermal insulation panels were applied to both sides of the wall without TRM systems; e) TRM and thermal insulation panels to one side of the wall (1P1W). FEM results show a good match with experiments both in terms of force and deformation. Results presented the efficacy of combining TRM with a thermal insulation panel. It has also been discovered that using thermal insulation without the TRM system increases wall capacity by a small percentage compared to integrated retrofitting or using only the TRM system. The developed model is limited to the considered parameters and more analysis is needed to generalize the FEM model.