Strengthening Of Masonry Walls Research Articles

Experimental research on the axial compressive performance of brick masonry walls strengthened with a steel plate frame considering initial load

Initial load means the load, including dead or/and live load, applied on brick masonry walls before being strengthened, which can influence the strengthening effect. However, research on the strengthening of brick masonry walls particularly considering the effect of initial load is insufficient. Steel is widely utilised for brick masonry strengthening because of its simple construction procedure and flexible configuration. Hence, for advancing the application of steel plates in brick masonry strengthening engineering and studying the effect of initial load on strengthening, an experiment was performed to investigate the axial compressive performance of a steel plate frame (SPF) strengthening brick masonry wall considering initial load for various frame configurations. The experiment results indicated that the SPF effectively confined the brick masonry wall, and steel plate columns underwent local buckling failure under axial load; the load-bearing capacity of brick masonry walls increased by at least 10.62 % strengthened with double-sided single-span SPF, and it further improved by 18.75 % strengthened with double-sided double-span SPF when initial load ratio was less than 0.25. Initial load ratio considerably affected the axial collaborative performance of the brick masonry wall and SPF, and increasing initial load ratio resulted in poor axial collaborative performance, following which the load-bearing capacity of the strengthened masonry walls decreased. The load-bearing capacity of the strengthened walls was higher for an initial load ratio less than 0.25. Conversely, a rare strengthening effect was observed when the initial load ratio exceeded 0.7. Based on the simplification of steel plate boundary conditions and the buckling theory of struts, a formula for predicting the load-bearing capacity of brick masonry walls strengthened with an SPF considering initial load was derived, which showed acceptable accuracy in comparison with experimental values.

Seismic in-plane behavior of composite masonry walls strengthened with cold rolled steel sheets

The seismic behavior of masonry walls strengthened by cold rolled steel sheets is numerically evaluated in this study using finite element modeling in ABAQUS. Cold-rolled steel sheets cover two sides of an unreinforced masonry wall and are bolted together to form a composite masonry wall. The behavior of the composite masonry walls is compared to that of the corresponding unreinforced masonry walls with various failure mechanisms. The finite element models of the unreinforced masonry walls are validated through experimental data in the literature. Then, cold-rolled steel sheet-strengthened walls are simulated, and variations in strength, ductility, and failure mode are investigated. A thorough sensitivity analysis is conducted on the effects of the aspect ratio, boundary condition, axial load ratio, steel sheet thickness, and connection bolt configuration on the in-plane strength and failure mode of the walls. It is observed that the steel sheets affect the local and global behavior of the masonry walls and change their failure modes. The use of through-thickness bolts to connect steel sheets to the masonry wall provides a composite action between steel sheets and the masonry wall against in-plane lateral loads. The cold-formed steel sheets not only resist a portion of the lateral load but also significantly increase the lateral strength of the masonry walls and the ductility of the whole wall system. Based on the analysis results it can be concluded that strengthening masonry walls with cold-rolled steel sheets is a promising technique for the seismic improvement of existing conventional masonry buildings and for the design of new masonry buildings.

A study of the seismic resistance performance of strengthened masonry walls using polypropylene mesh-composite on the surface

To investigate the seismic performance of masonry walls in village buildings strengthened with polypropylene mesh materials on the surface, five reduced-scale masonry walls were designed for low-cyclic reversed loading tests. The research observed the failure processes and characteristic forms of masonry walls, conducting a comparative analysis of the hysteresis curves and energy dissipation of the walls. Then, ABAQUS finite element software was used to simulate the performance of the strengthened walls to analyze the damage mode of these walls. The results indicated that under compression-shear loading, unreinforced masonry walls experienced shear failure along horizontal mortar joints, exhibiting lower shear load, lateral stiffness, and ductility. The reinforced walls with polypropylene mesh-composite effectively delayed and mitigated the failure. Weak zones in the wall gradually extended from the structural sides towards the central core area. Ultimately, after the reinforcement material had fully engaged, delamination failure occurred, leading to the formation of "X" or "Y" shaped through cracks. After reinforcement with single-side polypropylene materials, the load-bearing capacity of the wall increased by 165 % compared to the unreinforced wall. The ductility is improved compared to the unreinforced wall, whereas the initial stiffness increased by 133 %. Upon reinforcement with double-sided materials, the wall's load-bearing capacity surged by 180 %. The initial stiffness climbed to 171.3 %. The finite element analysis results closely aligned with the experimental data, suggesting that reinforcing the surface with polypropylene mesh-composite cement mortar significantly bolstered the wall's shear strength and deformation capabilities. This method effectively strengthens the seismic resistance of masonry structures.

Enhancement of the impact resistance of masonry walls using fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Many civilian structures are masonry ones. However, masonry walls are susceptible to impact loading. Despite the vulnerability, research on enhancing the impact resistance of masonry walls is substantially scarce, especially under high-velocity impact. Hence, in this study, the effect of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites on the impact resistance of masonry walls was numerically investigated, especially considering high-velocity impact loading. For this purpose, finite element analysis (FEA) was implemented deploying LS-DYNA. In modeling, the Add Erosion and the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics options were employed to effectively represent impact behaviors of masonry walls subject high-velocity impact loading. Firstly, the developed masonry wall models were validated by comparing the numerical results with experimental ones. Using the verified numerical models, various parametric studies were performed. The main parameters were the directions and types of fiber, different velocities of an impactor, and the number of impactors. Based on the study, the near-surface-mounted (NSM) FRP method was found to be inefficient in improving the impact resistance of masonry walls. Although the externally-bonded (EB) FRP technique was more effective than the NSM FRP one, the impact behavior varied depending on the types and number of FRP. For instance, strengthening a masonry wall using one layer of high-modulus carbon FRP (HCFRP) EB sheet resulted in the perforation of the HCFRP sheet due to the low ultimate strain of HCFRP sheet. Although one layer of standard CFRP (SCFRP) EB sheet was effective to prevent a masonry wall from being perforated against one impactor, the strengthened masonry wall was penetrated by multiple impactors. It was found that two woven SCFRP EB sheets were optimum to evade the perforation of masonry walls subject to high-velocity impact loading. Furthermore, equations for correlations between the maximum impact force and impact energy are proposed.

Dynamic behavior of axially loaded masonry walls strengthened with different innovative techniques under explosion loading

In the realm of construction engineering, brick masonry stands out as a pivotal structural element, renowned for its widespread application. Given the load-bearing nature of masonry structures, the ramifications of wall failure under extreme loads induced by explosions are profound. Particularly concerning is the out-of-plane failure of walls, which occurs without warning and affords scant time for assessment of their response. Brick masonry, characterized by its brittleness and susceptibility to cracking, presents inherent challenges in this regard. Recent examples, such as the Beirut explosion in 2020 and the Nashville bombing in 2020, vividly illustrate the devastating consequences of inadequate blast resistance in masonry structures. These incidents serve as poignant reminders of the imperative to fortify masonry constructions against explosive threats. While ample research exists on the behavior of free-standing braced and unbraced masonry walls subjected to explosive loading, there remains a notable gap in understanding the response of strengthened masonry walls exposed to blast loading, especially when carrying varying axial loads. This study addresses this gap by investigating different strengthening methodologies, namely (1) Cement-mortar plaster, (2) Ferro-cement, and (3) Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminate, aimed at enhancing the anti-blast performance of unreinforced masonry walls. The experimentation focuses on a specific unreinforced masonry wall measuring 5000 × 2800 × 230 mm3, constructed from clay bricks and subjected to axial compressive loads of 51, 30, and 9kN/m, corresponding to the loads on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd storey walls of a 3-storey masonry building, respectively. Utilizing a sophisticated finite-elements code, Abaqus, equipped with an explicit module and Concrete Damage Plasticity model, the blast simulations are meticulously conducted. The walls are meticulously modeled through detailed micro-modeling techniques. Results showed that the utilization of CFRP on the explosion-facing surface of the wall resulted in a remarkable reduction in damage, with the highest decrease of 64% achieved under the lowest axial compression. Conversely, the minimum decrease of 61.71% was recorded under maximum axial compression, highlighting the efficacy of CFRP in mitigating damage caused by explosions on walls. This research sheds light on effective methods to enhance the blast resistance of masonry walls, offering valuable insights for improving structural resilience and informing building codes. Its findings are crucial for ensuring the safety and security of infrastructure against explosive threats, ultimately safeguarding lives and property.

Enhancing fire resistance of masonry structures: The potential of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC)

The potential of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) for strengthening masonry structures is evaluated in this work, both under normal service conditions and after exposure to high temperatures, as a significant gap has been identified on this topic at the present time. The mechanical properties of UHPC exposed up to 800 °C are analyzed by means of destructive and non-destructive tests, and the UHPC-to-masonry bond capacity is tested, depending on temperature and substrate preparation. The strengthening of masonry columns by confinement is studied, proving that UHPC jackets can double the compressive strength and provide ductility, even after exposure to high temperatures. Strengthening of masonry walls to in-plane loads is also evaluated, finding that UHPC layers can increase the shear strength and prevent brittle failures. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of theoretical models from some design guides, slightly adapted to the context of this research, obtaining a good degree of accuracy.

Seismic retrofit cost model for Italian masonry residential buildings to support territorial-scale risk analysis

Over the last 50 years, earthquakes forced the Italian Government to pay emergency, recovery and reconstruction costs amounting to 180 billion euros, i.e., about 3.6 billion euros per year. These figures underline the poor seismic resilience of Italy and therefore the need for sustainable risk mitigation plans at national level.Within this context, this study aims to provide a seismic retrofit cost model for Italian unreinforced masonry (URM) residential buildings, to support territorial-scale risk analysis. To this end, well-established intervention techniques, suitable for being analyzed on a large scale, were selected. These interventions include strengthening of masonry walls, stiffening and anchoring of floors, improving the wall system connection, and their possible combinations. First, for each of the selected interventions, the related cost items (obtained via a work-breakdown-structure procedure) were identified. Second, their unit cost was either retrieved from Italian price lists or estimated according to market analysis ad hoc conducted. Third, a quantity-survey-method approach was implemented to a set of 445 URM buildings to estimate the retrofit costs per square meter (€/m2) of investigated retrofit interventions. Lastly, based on the estimated cost of retrofitting of these buildings, parametric cost models were developed to inform seismic risk analyses at various territorial scales, depending on the available building information (i.e., exposure data).The cost models here developed and proposed can be used to support the design of cost-effective seismic mitigation measures, i.e., to identify retrofit solutions that are technically effective but also economically sustainable at large territorial scale.

Empirical Equations for Modelling Yarn–Mortar Debonding in TRM-Strengthened Masonry Walls Subjected to Out-of-Plane Loading

The effectiveness of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) strengthening of masonry walls largely depends on the bond between the constituent materials. Finite element analysis (FEA) can provide valuable insights on the effect of the parameters affecting the bond; however, detailed FEA is computationally intensive. To alleviate this, we develop novel empirical equations to estimate effective textile fibre properties, thus implicitly accounting for yarn and mortar debonding. As a result, 3D finite element simulations of strengthened wall specimens are simplified and accelerated. The proposed scheme is calibrated using load–displacement paths derived from experimental data, and the simulated failure modes are compared against the experimental ones demonstrating perfect agreement. A parametric analysis is conducted, exploring the impact of the mechanical ratio of TRM reinforcement and the axial wall load on the effectiveness of TRM strengthening. We demonstrate that low values of mechanical reinforcement, corresponding to natural fibres, give rise to an 8-fold increase in the capacity of unreinforced walls. The findings draw conclusions about the efficacy of TRM strengthening in masonry structures, and provide valuable insights for optimising TRM reinforcement, considering different fibre materials and axial loads in masonry structures.

Review of Out-of-Plane Strengthening Techniques of Unreinforced Masonry Walls

When a seismic load is applied horizontally or laterally on unreinforced masonry walls (URM), the walls behave in two different ways, viz., in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OoP). This review beneficially provides a literature overview of the most cited research papers on Scopus, and the database is evaluated with VOSviewer software for scientometric analysis. This review paper delves into the practical applications of various types of reinforcement for masonry walls, specifically focusing on four commonly used systems: externally bonded strengthening techniques using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), steel-reinforced grout (SRG), fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM), and textile-reinforced mortars (TRM). The main objective of the paper is to explore the efficacy of these reinforcement techniques in strengthening masonry walls, and to provide a comprehensive overview of their respective advantages and limitations. A further detailed study of the extent of the literature is performed about the effect of the different strengthening systems on the mechanical properties of different categories of masonry walls like a cement block, stone, and clay brick are described and categorized. The efficiency of OoP strengthening can depend on various factors, such as the types of masonry units, the rendering mortar, the type of strengthening system, the bond between the different materials interfaces, the geometry of the wall, and the loading conditions. By utilizing the practical method of Dematel (Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) analysis, this review can delve deeply into the impact of various factors and precisely identify the crucial components of the cause-and-effect connection. The results indicate that the bond between material interfaces is the critical factor. This meticulous and structured review offers valuable perspectives for researchers and engineers, showcasing current research trends and presenting potential avenues for future exploration.

The structural response of masonry walls strengthened using prestressed near surface mounted GFRP bars under cyclic loading

The preliminary findings of cyclic tests conducted on a series of half-scale unstrengthened and strengthened masonry walls are presented. Reinforced walls were strengthened by (i) non-prestressed near surface mounted (NSM) glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and (ii) prestressed NSM GFRP. Walls were strengthened symmetrically by vertical bars passing through both mortar and bricks. The structure was subjected to concurrent sustained uniformly distributed vertical loads and static cyclic horizontal loads. Each reinforcement method was evaluated for its loading capability and ductility efficiency. The experimental results showed a considerably higher ultimate load-carrying capability and ductility of strengthened walls compared to the unstrengthened wall. This was more pronounced for walls reinforced with prestressed GFRP bars. The ultimate strength of the strengthened walls compared to the un-reinforced masonry (USM) wall was 38% for the wall strengthened with the non-prestressed NSM technique and 58% for the wall strengthened with the prestressed NSM technique. The horizontal failure displacement was improved by about 64% in the non-prestressed NSM technique and 127% in the prestressed NSM technique compared to the USM wall.Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Author 1 Given name: [Hossein Kanani] Last name [kashani]. Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correct. Author 4 Given name: [Seyed Mohammad] Last name [Hosseini]. Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correct. Author 5 Given name: [Seyed Mohammad Reza] Last name [Mortazavi]. Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correct.All confirmed!Please check and confirm the corresponding affiliation is correctly identified.Confirmed!

Experimental investigation on seismic behavior of brick masonry wall strengthened with ECC splint

The strengthening effect of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) on brick masonry walls is studied in this paper. Seven testing specimens including three unstrengthened and four ECC-strengthened brick masonry walls were constructed and subjected to quasi-static loading tests. The effects of aspect ratios (1, 1.5 and 2) and strengthening methods (ECC overall and frame strip strengthening) on the failure mode, failure mechanism, hysteresis characteristics and deformability capacity of brick masonry walls were studied. Research shows that the increase of the aspect ratio reduces the performance of the wall in all aspects. The ECC splint can restrain its inner brick wall dramatically, and the strengthened masonry wall convert the brittle failure mode into rocking failure or sliding failure. The ECC splint strengthening technology can effectively improve the seismic performance of the brick masonry walls. Finally, based on the strengthening effect of ECC splint, a formula for the shear capacity of brick masonry walls strengthened with ECC splint is proposed, which provides experimental and theoretical basis for seismic strengthening of masonry structures.

Experimental study on the seismic performance of clay brick masonry wall strengthened with stainless steel strips

Strengthening the existing masonry structures with stainless steel strips is a new strengthening approach, which combines the advantages of compatible-to-masonry, chemically stable, durable, effective retrofitting, and low impact on the existing masonry structure. The horizontal and vertical stainless strips was anchored into the masonry wall with the angle steel and steel pipe to improve its in-plane tensile strength and ductility. To study the seismic performance of brick masonry walls strengthened with stainless steel strips, one masonry wall and five stainless steel strip strengthened masonry wall specimens with different packing modes and grid spacings were tested under low frequency cyclic loading. The experimental results show that the proposed strengthening approach can efficiently improve the seismic performance of the existing masonry structures, such as the load bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity. The failure modes and damage evolution law of all the specimens were compared and analyzed. The load bearing capacity and hysteretic curves of the specimen were calculated using the proposed calculation formula and restoring force model, respectively. The calculated results are consistent with the test results, which provides an appropriate theoretical support and design basis for the masonry reinforcement design with stainless steel strips.

Fibre reinforced mortars for the out-of-plane strengthening of masonry walls

Unreinforced masonry buildings (URM) often suffer of local out-of-plane failure mechanisms of the walls during a seismic excitation. This study investigates the effectiveness of a relatively novel class of inorganic composite materials, namely Fibre Reinforced Mortars (FRM), for the out-of-plane strengthening of masonry walls. Three experimental tests by using a novel setup to perform out-of-plane tests on masonry panels, part of an enlarged ongoing testing campaign, are presented herein. The specimens are solid clay brick masonry walls subjected to compressive axial load and out-of-plane horizontal actions according to a “four-point bending test” scheme. Two specimens are reinforced before testing with FRM, one in single-side and another one in double-side configurations, while the third specimen is tested in the bare configuration. Experimental results are reported and discussed. The preliminary results attest that FRMs are effective in increasing the out-of-plane capacity of masonry walls and in postponing the activation of the out-of-plane failure mechanism.

A Review on Use of FRP Mesh and Bamboo Fiber Composite Material for AAC Block Masonry Wall Strengthening and Water Resistance

Abstract: For the purpose of strengthening masonry walls, externally bonded composite materials offer a desirable solution. Current studies in this area demonstrate that the use of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), which are externally bonded composite materials, improves the strength, stiffness, and ductility of the wall under loads while maintaining the wall's integrity at failure

Shear strengthening of masonry walls with Textile Reinforced Mortars (TRM) under high temperature exposure

The behavior of masonry walls strengthened with Textile Reinforced Mortars (TRM) is a topic that has received considerable attention from researchers in recent years. However, the response of such elements after exposure to high temperature is an issue that remains to be explored extensively. This study analyzes the behavior of TRM-strengthened brick masonry panels with glass and carbon fiber meshes subjected to temperatures up to 600 °C, and subsequently tested under diagonal compression. The reinforcements were applied before or after temperature exposure, to analyze the effectiveness of damaged or undamaged TRMs, thus simulating different scenarios that might occur in a real building under a fire event. In general terms, the results showed that TRMs with carbon fibers exhibited a better response in these conditions, restoring the walls to their original capacity and providing additional ductility, whilst reinforcements with glass fibers seemed to be more affected by temperature. Finally, the experimental results are here compared to predictions from available design guides, in order to assess the accuracy that these codes would provide in these circumstances.

In-plane cyclic behavior of brick walls strengthened with CFRP plates embedded in the horizontal mortar joint

Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings exhibit significant vulnerability under in-plane seismic loads due to poor tensile strength and integrity. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of embedding carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates in the horizontal mortar joint on improving the in-plane seismic performance of URM wall that was prone to fail by diagonal shear failure mode. A total of five half-scale specimens, each measuring 2250 mm × 1500 mm × 240 mm, including two un-strengthened brick walls and three strengthened walls, were tested undergoing pre-compression stress combined with incremental lateral displacement. The CFRP plates were only embedded in the wall on one side in order to reduce the impact on building appearance and different reinforcement ratios were adopted. The failure mode, hysteretic behavior, shear strength, ductility, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity of the specimens were discussed. The results showed that reinforcement can control the initiation and rapid growth of diagonal shear cracks. The strengthened masonry walls exhibited flexural rather than brittle shear failure with good ductility and energy dissipation. The ductility of the strengthened walls increased significantly with the increased reinforcement ratio and there was an optimal reinforcement ratio that maximized the ductility. The strengthened wall with medium reinforcement ratio showed the highest increase in ductility factor of 45.71% compared with the control specimen. The strengthened specimens displayed greater bearing capacity compared with the un-strengthened specimen. The largest increase in the shear strength of the strengthened walls was 10.16%, which indicates the effectiveness of the reinforcement method of used to embed CFRP in the horizontal joint to improve the in-plane seismic performance of URM walls. In addition, the abilities of several analytical models used to predict the shear capacity of the URM and strengthened walls were analyzed.

An Updated Discrete Element Model for the In-Plane Behaviour of NFRCM Strengthened Masonry Walls

An Updated Discrete Element Model for the In-Plane Behaviour of NFRCM Strengthened Masonry Walls

A novel parallel wire steel-reinforced mortar (PW-SRM) method versus textile reinforced mortar (TRM) for out-of-plane strengthening of masonry walls

Lateral loads cause extensive damage to buildings due to the weakness of bearing out-of-plane un-reinforced masonry (URM) walls. Strengthening URM walls is consequently favored by researchers aiming at achieving building and respective occupant safety. The strengthening of masonry structures with textile reinforced mortar (TRM) or steel-reinforced mortar (SRM) has become prevalent in the last two decades. This study presents an innovative method of strengthening masonry walls using mortar reinforced with high tensile strength steel (HTSS) parallel wires. For the first time, an unprecedented investigation as to the effects of the grooving method improving the load-carrying capacity and failure mechanism of masonry walls under out-of-plane loading was performed. In addition, the parallel wires steel-reinforce mortar (PW-SRM) was compared with the textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) reinforcement method. Nine walls with dimensions of 1400 × 440 × 100 mm each were reinforced through different techniques and tested under four-point out-of-plane bending. The implications of the number of glass textiles with open mesh layers, one-sided and two-sided reinforcement, engineered cementitious composites (ECC), grooves on the masonry substrate, and, the volume of HTSS wires in increasing out-of-plane loading were compared and discussed. The findings demonstrated that the best performance is related to the specimens reinforced by the PW-SRM method. Similarly, the amount of out-of-plane load-bearing capacity and energy absorption increased more than 24 and 5300 times compared to the control specimen, respectively. It was further discovered that the grooving method transferred the tensile stress created in the TRM composite to the depth of the masonry substrate, which enhanced the failure mechanism from debonding to textile rupture and increased the strength by 88% compared to the corresponding specimen without grooves.

Shaking table tests on a 5-storey unreinforced masonry structure strengthened by ultra-high ductile cementitious composites

Multi-storey unreinforced masonry structures have been widely used as residential building structures in China during the decade of 1970–1980. Recent earthquake events have shown that these buildings may exhibit severe damages due to their relatively brittle seismic resistance mechanism. The use of ultra-high ductile cementitious composites (UHDCC) layers can be an attractive minimal-disturbance strengthening option for masonry structures resulting in low intervention costs and quick construction. UHDCC is a high-performance engineered cementitious composite that offers a tensile strain capacity higher than 5%, thus significantly improving the low tensile strength and ductility of the masonry wall. To investigate the seismic behavior of UHDCC-strengthened masonry structures, shaking table tests were carried out on two three-dimensional 5-storey masonry structures including a conventional test structure (CS) and a strengthened test structure (SS). The results show that the proposed strengthening method can effectively improve the seismic performance of multi-storey unreinforced masonry structures due to the excellent cohesion achieved between the existing masonry walls and the UHDCC external strengthening layers. The strengthened method changes the damage state of masonry structures from shear failure to a more ductile failure, and the strengthened masonry walls can exhibit a multi-cracking response. The initial natural period of the SS specimen was found 0.58 times that of the CS specimen. The base shear and maximum roof drift of the SS specimen are 4.8 and 3.4 times that of the CS model, respectively. This study provides reference results for the application of UHDCC layers to strengthen multi-storey unreinforced masonry structures.

Retrofitting with FRCM Composites: Shear and Flexural Behaviour of Strengthened Masonry Walls

Structural strengthening using composite materials is nowadays one of the most interesting techniques to overcome weaknesses of masonry structures constituting large part of the building heritage. The use of FRCM composites is becoming more and more widespread due to some limitations of FRP retrofitting systems. In this framework, the presented experimental study is aimed at evaluating the in-plane and the out-of-plane behaviour of masonry walls strengthened with different types of FRCMs, analyzing in detail failure modes, capacity increments and efficiency of the strengthening systems when tested using two different configurations. To this purpose, bidirectional basalt grids and unidirectional steel fiber sheets, coupled with a lime based mortar, were used for retrofitting clay brick masonry walls subjected to diagonal compression tests and out-of-plane flexural tests. Experimental outcomes, when considering the in-plane or the out-of-plane direction, show that the adopted different layout strictly influences the flexural and shear strengthening efficiency of the reinforcement.