Near-surface-mounted retrofitting of adobe walls using different materials: Evaluation of seismic performance

Abstract

This study focuses on the seismic strengthening of adobe walls using different reinforcement materials and different reinforcement schemes through the near-surface-mounted (NSM) technique. Six adobe wall panels (1900 × 1200 × 200 mm) were quasi-statically tested and comprised one unreinforced wall and five specimens reinforced with reinforced mortar strip, bamboo plywood and wood, respectively. The strengthening procedure involved insertion of the reinforcing materials into the grooves cut symmetrically on both sides of the walls. The results were described in terms of energy dissipation, lateral resistance, ultimate displacement, stiffness degradation, ductility, and tolerate maximum peak ground accelerations. The tolerate maximum peak ground accelerations (PGA) of the specimens were analyzed using the N2 method. The test results indicated that the tensile strength, elastic modulus and scheme of reinforcement materials had a significant impact on the seismic performance and failure mode of specimens. The reinforced mortar strips significantly improved the seismic performance of adobe walls, particularly when using horizontal and vertical reinforcement schemes. The reinforcement of adobe walls with bamboo plywood and wood had achieved satisfactory results in terms of ductility, energy dissipation, and PGA. Finally, the masonry calculation formula was modified to establish the formula for estimating lateral resistance of adobe wall.