Seismic behaviour before and after strengthening of solid confined masonry walls with glass fiber reinforced polymers - analysis of hysteresis curves, obtained by shaking table tests

Abstract

Masonry is one of the oldest building construction methods used by man thousands of years ago, and one of those used today. The masonry buildings look stable and give a sense of security and comfort, leaving a lasting impression of strength. Shaking table tests are planned in order to deepen the understanding of the behaviour of confined masonry structures. This paper presents the observations from a series of shaking table tests done on a 1:1 scale confined masonry wall model without openings. The specimen was tested under constant gravity load and incrementally increasing in-plane loading seismic up to the occurrence of damage. The horizontal load applied is in-plane of the specimen. Then, the seismically damaged specimen was strengthened, using glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRPs), and tested again. The specimen was strengthened on the surface of two sides. Hysteresis curves before and after with GFRPs wall strengthening are analysed. The tests results indicate that the GFRP system restores and increases the lateral load capacity of strengthened walls. Moreover, GFRP helps to increase the area of hysteresis curves, leading to increased seismic energy dissipation.