Performance of masonry columns confined with composites under axial compression: A state-of-the-art review

Abstract

The confinement technique has been effectively used to enhance the strength and ductility of structural elements. Since masonry possesses relatively limited ductility and tensile strength, the confinement has been shown to improve the performance of masonry elements, particularly the columns. Primarily three different techniques are implemented to confine the masonry columns (1) fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping (2) fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) application and (3) confinement of mortar joints by steel grinds or wire hooping. Although the above mentioned techniques have shown to provide confinement and improve the performance of masonry columns, each has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of applicability, compatibility, strength enhancement, ductility gain and reversibility. Therefore in this paper, an attempt has been made to critically review the performance of masonry columns confined with above mentioned techniques to appraise their performances in relation to various parameters. For these purposes, three sets of experimental databases have been developed for the above stated techniques from the past research studies. Further several analytical models have been independently developed to predict the confined compressive strength and axial stress–strain behaviour of the masonry columns; subsequently the predictabilities of those analytical models were verified by comparing against with the experimental database. The analyses revealed, that the analytical models given in the Italian guidelines CNR DT 200/215 conservatively predict the confined strength of masonry columns. Therefore it can be recommended to use deliberately across different confinement techniques investigated.