In-plane behaviour of masonry infill walls with openings strengthened using textile reinforced mortar

Abstract

A numerical study was carried out to simulate the in-plane behaviour of a 1:2.5 scaled one-storey one-bay masonry-infilled reinforced concrete (RC) frame retrofitted with textile-reinforced mortar (TRM). The study used ABAQUS finite element analysis (FEA) software and a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element method. Using a ductile design and details, the TRM-reinforced structure encountered in-plane displacement-control cyclic loads during the test. This study assesses how accurately a representative numerical model can replicate the results of an experimental test. Parametric research was conducted following the numerical model's calibration. To develop a suitable numerical model, suitable constitutive models based on the concrete damage plasticity (CDP) approach were used to characterize the nonlinear response of TRM, masonry infill, and concrete. The experimental findings, which aggrandize the response simulation, served as the basis for calibrating the models. Using a finite element framework and the simplified micro model technique, the masonry structure is simulated at the infill component level. The numerical model demonstrated accurately the ability to simulate the in-plane behaviour of the modified RC frame with infill walls, including its initial stiffness, deterioration, deformation-resisting ability, and failure patterns. Furthermore, a parametric study was conducted to determine the significance of the full-bond scenario between the RC frame infilled with masonry and the TRM considering: (1) the location of the strengthening material on the specimen and (2) the number of layers of the strengthening material. All retrofitted wall specimens showed a considerable improvement in in-plane performance; some features of the wall's behaviour were found to be strongly influenced by the parameters under examination. It can be observed that the specimen with two layers of TRM on both sides of the infill wall exhibit the maximum lateral load carrying capacity and maximum deflection resisting characteristics while the other retrofitted specimens controlled the deflection to some extent and significantly enhancing the load carrying capacities of the masonry system.