Seismic Retrofitting of Traditional Masonry with Pultruded FRP Profiles

Francesca Sciarretta

doi:10.3390/app10072489

Francesca Sciarretta

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app10072489

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Journal: Applied sciences	Publication Date: Apr 4, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Università Iuav di Venezia

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the potentiality of seismic retrofitting solutions with pultruded Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) profiles. This material can be used in connected frames providing lightweight, corrosion-free and reversible retrofitting of masonry buildings with the moderate requirements of surface preservation. In a hypothetical case study, an experimental program was designed; monotonic shear tests on a half-size physical model of the sample wall were performed to assess the structural performance before and after retrofitting with a basic frame of pultruded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) C-shaped profiles, connected to the masonry by steel threaded bar connections. During the tests, the drift, the diagonal displacements in the masonry and the micro-strain in the profiles were measured. The retrofitted system has proven very effective in delaying crack appearance, increasing the maximum load (+85% to +93%) and ultimate displacement (up to +303%). The failure mode switches from rocking to a combination of diagonal cracking and bed joint sliding. The gauge recordings show a very limited mechanical exploitation of the GFRP material, despite the noticeable effectiveness of the retrofit. The application seems thus promising and worth a deeper research focus. Finally, a finite element modelling approach has been developed and validated, and it will be useful to envisage the effects of the proposed solution in future research.

Highlights

The aim of retrofitting work is to improve the mechanical performance of a structure or single members of insufficient seismic adequacy
This study aims to explore the feasibility of frame retrofitting of masonry piers with pultruded
The proposed solution brings on a significant improvement in the mechanical performance of traditional brick masonry with hydraulic lime mortar joints; The improvement in drift capacity of R1 and R2 is clear, but the increase in the ultimate drift after retrofit is not fully clarified by the described testing program

Summary

Introduction

The aim of retrofitting work is to improve the mechanical performance of a structure or single members of insufficient seismic adequacy. Generally metallic or wooden, are common types of retrofit solutions for low- and medium-rise buildings [2,3]. Their technical and structural advantages are their high extent of reversibility (mostly depending on the wall–frame connections), good compatibility with masonry, high effectiveness in improving the seismic performance of the building and adaptability to changes in actions or resistances [4,5]. Such solutions have a good potential for sustainability because of their efficient use of material and low cost due to their simple design and quick installation

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