Lateral Out-of-Plane Strengthening of Masonry Walls with Composite Materials

The structural behavior of masonry walls laterally strengthened with externally bonded composite materials to resist out-of-plane loads is theoretically and experimentally studied. Hollow concrete block masonry walls and solid autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block masonry walls are examined. A theoretical model that accounts for the cracking and the physical nonlinear behavior, the debonding of the composite layers, the arching effect, the interfacial stresses, and the unique modeling aspects of the laterally strengthened wall is presented. The experimental study includes loading to failure of 4 laterally strengthened masonry walls and 2 control walls. The experimental and analytical results point at the unique aspects of the lateral strengthening of masonry walls with composite materials. In particular, they reveal and explain the premature shear failure in laterally strengthened hollow concrete blocks walls and, on the other hand, demonstrate the potential of lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strengthening of AAC masonry walls. The laterally strengthened AAC masonry walls reveal improved strength, deformability, and integrity at failure characteristics.     

Modeling the Nonlinear Behavior of Concrete Masonry Walls Retrofitted with Steel Studs under Blast Loading

This paper presents the results of an analytical investigation of one-way unreinforced masonry (URM) walls retrofitted with externally anchored steel studs and subjected to blast loads. Using the wall geometrical and material properties, deflected shape, and crack pattern as input, a nonlinear model is developed to predict the inward force-displacement relationship of the retrofitted walls. In addition, using a rigid body analysis, a simple bilinear force-displacement relationship is developed to model the outward force-displacement relationship of the walls. Utilizing these two force-displacement relationships (resistance functions), a generalized single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model is developed to capture the nonlinear out-of-plane dynamic response of the retrofitted walls under blast loads. The SDOF model captured the experimentally observed displacement responses of the tested walls with reasonable accuracy. The model was also used to investigate the influence of block thickness, wall slenderness ratio, blast load intensity, and blast pulse shape on the out-of-plane dynamic response of retrofitted walls. The results demonstrated that anchored steel-stud systems could significantly enhance the out-of-plane capacity of the retrofitted walls by increasing their out-of-plane capacity and reducing their displacement.     

Modeling Out-of-Plane Behavior of URM Walls Retrofitted with Fiber Composites

Although masonry is one of the oldest construction materials, its behavior has not been investigated as extensively as other construction materials. Out-of-plane failures are common in unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings constructed in seismic regions. Seven half-scale brick masonry walls were constructed, externally strengthened with vertical glass-fabric composite strips, and subjected to static cyclic out-of-plane loading. The flexural behavior of the tested specimens is characterized by three main stages corresponding to the first visible bed-joint crack, the first delamination, and the ultimate load. The main parameters being investigated in this study are the amount of composite, the height-to-thickness ratio h∕t, the tensile strain in composites, and the mode of failure. Based on the trends observed in the experimental phase, it was concluded that the behavior of the walls is best predicted with a linear elastic approach. It was also concluded that the ultimate strength method overestimates the flexural capacity and the ultimate deflection of the wall. Preliminary design recommendations are also proposed for tensile strain in the composite, maximum deflection, and maximum reinforcement ratio.     

Strengthening of Masonry Walls against Out-of-Plane Loads Using Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement

Thirty masonry walls strengthened using three different fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems, with three anchorage methods, were fabricated and tested under a concentrated load over a 100 mm square area or a patch load over a 500 mm square area. The test results indicated a significant increase in the out-of-plane wall strength over the unstrengthened wall. While failure occurred in the unstrengthened wall by bending, four different modes of failure, that is, punching shear through the bricks, debonding of FRP reinforcement from the masonry substrate, crushing of brick in compression, and tensile rupture of the FRP reinforcement, were observed in the strengthened walls, depending on the types and configurations of FRP and anchorage systems. With appropriate surface preparation and anchorage systems, premature failure due to FRP debonding is prevented. Based on the principles of strain compatibility and force equilibrium, simple analytical models are presented to predict the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the strengthened walls. The test results compared well with the analytical predictions.     

Out-of-Plane Strengthening of Masonry Walls with Reinforced Composites

This paper presents an investigation into the effectiveness of using fiber-reinforced composite overlays to strengthen existing unreinforced masonry walls to resist out-of-plane static loads. A total of fifteen wall panels [1,200 × 1,800 × 200 mm (4 ft × 6 ft × 8 in.)] were tested. Twelve panels were assembled with fiber-reinforcing systems attached to the tension side, and the remaining three control walls were left without any external reinforcement. Two configurations of external reinforcement were evaluated. The first reinforcement configuration consisted of two layers of fiber-reinforced plastic webbing and the second consisted of vertical and horizontal bands of undirectional fiber composites. The three wall specimens without external reinforcement were tested to evaluate the change in the system strength and behavior with application of the external reinforcing systems. In addition to the two fiber configurations, the testing program also evaluated two methods of surface preparation of the walls, sand blasting, and wire brush. All specimens were thoroughly washed by water jet, 48 hours prior to application of the fiber-reinforcing systems. Three specimens were tested for each variable. A uniformly distributed lateral load was applied to each panel using the procedures described in the ASTM Standard E-72 Test Method (airbag). Failure loads, strains in the external reinforcement (FRP), out-of-plane deformations, and failure modes were recorded. Recommendations on the usefulness of the proposed technique as a means of strengthening masonry walls for out-of-plane loads are presented. In general, flexural strength of masonry walls can be increased if the shear failure is controlled.     

Unreinforced Concrete Masonry Walls Strengthened with CFRP Sheets and Strips under Pendulum Impact

Impact tests using drop-weight pendulum on nine 1.2-m-high full-scale concrete masonry block walls were conducted to investigate the out-of-plane impact behavior of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls externally strengthened with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Three strengthening schemes on one side of the wall were studied: continuous unidirectional and continuous woven sheets, discrete strips in a vertical pattern, and discrete strips in orthogonal and diagonal patterns. All walls were vertically positioned resting on a knife-edge support with one face leaning against two steel rollers close to the upper and lower edges of the wall. The impact load was applied at the wall center through a drop-weight pendulum impact tester with various drop heights. Test results revealed that using composite laminates or strips could significantly improve the impact performance of URM walls. The wall strengthened with continuous woven sheets performed better than the one with unidirectional sheet. With the same amount of fiber-reinforced polymer strip material, the wall with narrower but more closely spaced strips performed slightly better than the one with wider strips.     

Out-of-Plane Strengthening of Unreinforced Masonry Walls with Openings

Collapse of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls is the cause of many casualties during extreme loading events. The objective of this current research was to investigate effective and practical approaches for strengthening URM block walls with openings to resist extreme out-of-plane loads. Five full-scale masonry block walls were constructed. The walls had different opening configurations such as a single center window, one window off center, two windows, a wide window and a door. The walls were tested when subjected to uniformly distributed lateral load up to failure. The walls were then strengthened using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer laminate strips and then retested. The walls were set up in a vertical test frame and were subjected to cyclic out-of-plane distributed pressure using an airbag. Failure of the unstrengthened URM block wall was along the mortar joints. In the strengthened walls, failure occurred in the mortar joints as well as in concrete blocks near the carbon strips. The lateral load carrying capacity of the strengthened walls was found to be significantly higher than that of the unstrengthened walls and had much more ductile performance.     

Impact Response of Externally Strengthened Unreinforced Masonry Walls Using CFRP

Research reported herein investigates the out-of-plane impact resistance of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, externally applied in sheets to one face of the wall. Two analytical methods based on energy principle and wave propagation theory and a finite-element-based numerical model have been developed, assuming a perfect bond at composite–masonry interface with an equivalent stiffness of the system. Full-scale impact tests are conducted for verification purpose, where three 1.2?m tall URM concrete walls (one unstrengthened and two strengthened with continuous unidirectional and woven CFRP sheets) are vertically tested up to cracking using a pendulum drop-weight impact tester. The test results compare reasonably well with those obtained from the analyses and simulation. It is found that the energy and finite-element methods can provide reasonable estimates for peak impact force and wall deflection, whereas the wave propagation method is rather limited by its applicability. Parametric studies are conducted to examine the effect of impactor mass, velocity, amount of CFRP reinforcement, and property of masonry material using the developed models.     

Flexural Capacity of Glass FRP Strengthened Concrete Masonry Walls

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) can provide a strengthening alternative for unreinforced and underreinforced masonry. The ease with which FRP can be installed on the exterior of a masonry wall makes this form of strengthening attractive to the owner, considering both reduced installation cost and down time of the occupied structure. Six unreinforced concrete masonry walls (four at 1.8 m tall and two at 4.7 m tall) were tested in out-of-plane flexure up to capacity. The walls were strengthened with glass FRP composite composed of unidirectional E-glass fabric with an epoxy matrix. The composite was adhered to the surface of the masonry using the same epoxy with the fibers oriented perpendicular to the bed joints. General flexural strength design equations are presented and compared with the results of the testing. It was found that the equations overpredicted the actual capacity of the test specimens by no more than 20%.     

Validation of Analytical Multiparameter Homogenization Models for Out-of-Plane Loaded Masonry Walls by Means of the Finite Element Method

The linear elastic analysis of in-plane and out-of-plane loaded masonry walls is still significant under service loads and is required by codes of practice, therefore the knowledge of the homogenized mechanical properties of masonry is of relevant interest. The aim of this paper is to discuss the problem of the out-of-plane loaded masonry walls in detail and to assess the accuracy and reliability of different homogenization approaches presented in the technical literature, with particular interest in recent explicit formulas obtained through an asymptotic model (as reported by Cecchi and Sab in 2002). Several meaningful comparisons are presented for different types of new and historical masonry structures currently employed in Italy. The validation of the analytical models is carried out by means of a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) out-of-plane homogenization. A final structural comparison among analytical models, FE out-of-plane homogenization, and a computationally expensive heterogeneous 3D FE model is discussed for a simply supported square panel laterally loaded.     

Behavior of Retrofitted URM Walls under Simulated Earthquake Loading

Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings perform poorly under seismic forces and have been identified as the main cause of loss of life in recent earthquakes. Many of these structures fail in out-of-plane bending due to the lack of reinforcement. In this study, the experimental results from three half-scale unreinforced brick walls retrofitted with vertical composite strips are presented. The specimens were subjected to cyclic out-of-plane loading. Five reinforcement ratios and two different glass fabric composite densities were investigated. The mode of failure is controlled by tensile failure when wider and lighter composite fabrics are used and by delamination when stronger ones are used. The tested specimens were capable of supporting a lateral load up to 32 times the weight of the wall. A deflection as much as 2% of the wall height was measured. Although both URM walls and composite strips behave in a brittle manner, the combination resulted in a system capable of dissipating some energy. Retrofitting URM walls with composite strips proved to be a good and reliable strengthening alternative.     

Strengthening of Infill Masonry Walls with FRP Materials

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of different externally bonded glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) systems for increasing the out-of-plane resistance of infill masonry walls to loading. The research included a comprehensive experimental program comprising 14 full-scale specimens, including four unstrengthened (control) specimens and 10 strengthened specimens. To simulate the boundary conditions of infill walls, all specimens consisted of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame, simulating the supporting RC elements of a building superstructure, which was infilled with solid concrete brick masonry. The specimens were loaded out-of-plane using uniformly distributed pressure to simulate the differential (suction) pressure induced by a tornado. Parameters investigated in the experimental program included aspect ratio, FRP coverage ratio, number of masonry wythes, and type of FRP anchorage. Test results indicated that the type of FRP anchorage had a significant effect on the failure mode. Research findings concluded that GFRP strengthening of infill masonry walls is effective in increasing the out-of-plane load-carrying capacity when proper anchorage of the FRP laminate is provided.     

Blast Resistance of FRP-Strengthened Masonry Walls. I: Approximate Analysis and Field Explosion Tests

An approximate analysis method is proposed to determine the blast resistance of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-strengthened masonry walls. The method relates the static to dynamic response by incorporating the strain rate effect on the material strength and a dynamic load factor for the applied peak load. Based on the method, 18 full-scale masonry walls reinforced with three different FRP systems were designed and subjected to field explosions, using charges of 27-ton TNT in one test and 5-ton TNT in the other. For each test, the walls were placed at three different standoff distances and orientations to the blast source. The response of the strengthened walls under blast was monitored by high-speed data acquisition systems. Post-test observations indicated no visible damage, crack, or debonding in any of the walls, thus confirming the effectiveness of the FRP retrofit technique in blast protection. The data presented are valuable for validation of analytical or numerical models.     

Nonlinear Static Response and Free Vibration Analysis of Doubly Curved Cross-Ply Panels

In this paper, the nonlinear static and free vibration analyses of doubly curved cross-ply laminated panels subjected to thermomechanical loading are examined. The shell theory adopted in the present case is an extension of Reissner’s shallow shell simplifications that accounts for parabolic distribution of the transverse shear strains through thickness of the shell and tangential stress-free boundary conditions. A multiterm Galerkin’s method is adopted to solve the governing nonlinear partial differential equations. The static equilibrium paths are traced using the Newton-Raphson method in conjunction with the Riks approach to overcome the limit points. The free vibration frequencies about a static equilibrium state of a deformed panel are reported by solving the linear eigenvalue problem. Analytical results are presented for symmetric [0/90/0] and antisymmetric [0/90] cross-ply laminated doubly curved panels that illustrate the influence of geometric properties, in-plane edge boundary conditions, lateral distributed load and temperature field on the nonlinear behavior and natural frequencies.     

Cyclic Flexure Tests of Masonry Walls Reinforced with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheets

The research work reported here investigates the out-of-plane flexural behavior of masonry walls reinforced externally with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) sheets and subjected to cyclic loading. A full-scale test program consisting of eight wall specimens was conducted. Nine tests were performed, in which three parameters were studied. These included the level of compressive axial load, amount of internal steel reinforcement, and amount of externally bonded GFRP sheet reinforcement. Of the three parameters studied, varying the amount of GFRP sheets was the only parameter that significantly affected the behavior of the walls. The GFRP sheet reinforcement governed the linear response of the bending moment versus centerline deflection hysteresis. Increasing or decreasing the amount of GFRP sheet reinforcement either increased or decreased both the wall stiffness and the ultimate strength, respectively. Except for visible cracks, the walls maintained their structural integrity throughout the out-of-plane cyclic loading. The unloading/reloading paths for successive loading cycles were similar, indicating little degradation. Thus, the general behavior of the walls was very predictable. The system, therefore, could be used to advantageously rehabilitate older masonry structures that are inadequately reinforced to withstand seismic events. A simple model of the behavior is also presented to allow for the evaluation of the strength and deformation characteristics of these elements.     

Analytical Investigation of Lateral Strength of Masonry Infilled RC Frames Retrofitted with CFRP

In this study, two reinforced concrete frames with hollow clay tile masonry infill walls, retrofitted with diagonally applied carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), which were tested previously, were analytically investigated. A simple material model for the masonry infill wall strengthened with CFRP is suggested. The lateral strength of each rehabilitated frame was obtained by pushover analysis of four different models using a commercially available finite-element program, and the results were compared with the test results. We also determined the lateral strength of the CFRP-applied masonry infill walls, and compared the results with the results obtained from existing analytical models. Drift capacity of the masonry infill walls strengthened with CFRP was also investigated, and the drift capacity of the masonry infill walls strengthened with diagonally applied CFRP was recommended. It is concluded that the strength of the masonry infilled frames strengthened with diagonally applied CFRP can be satisfactorily predicted with the suggested procedure. The ultimate drift capacity of the masonry infill walls strengthened with diagonally applied CFRP strips was conservatively predicted to be 1.0%.     

Use of Composite Reinforcement to Strengthen Concrete and Air-Entrained Concrete Masonry Walls against Air Blast

Two concrete structures and three air-entrained concrete (AEC) masonry walls were subjected to two, high explosive detonations. The concrete structures were placed at a stand-off distance such that medium damage was expected. The stand-off distance of the AEC-masonry walls was reduced on each successive detonation until breaching occurred. The two concrete structures retrofitted with composite materials were subjected to air-blast loading at a stand-off distance of approximately 14.6 m. The structures were constructed such that each long side of the structure contained a wall retrofitted with a composite material and a wall left bare as a control. Both concrete structures exhibited less residual displacement on the walls strengthened with composite materials than the bare control walls.     

Out-of-Plane Flexural Performance of GFRP-Reinforced Masonry Walls

The objective of this paper is to assess the out-of-plane flexural performance of masonry walls that are reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRPs) rods, as an alternative for steel rebars. Eight 1?m×3?m full-scale walls were constructed using hollow concrete masonry units and tested in four-point bending with an effective span of 2.4 m between the supports. The walls were tested when subjected to increasing monotonic loads up to failure. The applied loads would represent out-of-plane loads arising from wind, soil pressure, or inertia force during earthquakes. One wall is unreinforced; another wall is reinforced with customary steel rebars; and the other six walls are reinforced with different amounts of GFRP reinforcement. Two of the GFRP-reinforced walls were grouted only in the cells where the rods were placed to investigate the effect of grouting the empty cells. The force-deformation relationship of the walls and the associated strains in the reinforcement were monitored throughout the tests. The relative performance of different walls is assessed to quantify the effect of different design variables. The range of GFRP reinforcement ratios covered in the experiments was used to propose a capacity diagram for the design of FRP-reinforced masonry walls similar to that of reinforced concrete elements.     

Response of Bonded Membrane Retrofit Concrete Masonry Walls to Dynamic Pressure

This paper describes the development of analytical models used to predict the response of bonded membrane retrofit concrete masonry walls subjected to out-of-plane impulse pressure loads. Full scale tests have shown significant improvement in the resistance of unreinforced concrete masonry walls retrofitted by membrane materials. The majority of the membrane retrofit concrete masonry walls survived compared to their unretrofitted counterparts that collapsed. Polymer membrane retrofit materials may be sprayed on, trowled on, or attached with adhesives to the tension face of the wall. Other membrane materials such as thin steel or aluminum sheets may be attached to the tension face of the wall using expansion screws or other structurally sound methods. Resistance functions previously presented by the writers for membrane retrofit concrete masonry walls are used in the development of the response. Single-degree-of-freedom equations are developed to predict the response of these walls to impulse pressure and the results of the analysis are compared with available full-scale tests.     

Dynamic Modal Analysis and Stability of Cantilever Shear Buildings: Importance of Moment Equilibrium

The dynamic modal analysis (i.e., the natural frequencies, modes of vibration, generalized masses, and modal participation factors) and static stability (i.e., critical loads and buckling modes) of two-dimensional (2D) cantilever shear buildings with semirigid flexural restraint and lateral bracing at the base support as well as lumped masses at both ends and subjected to a linearly distributed axial load along its span are presented using an approach that fulfills both the lateral and moment equilibrium conditions along the member. The proposed model includes the simultaneous effects and couplings of shear deformations, translational and rotational inertias of all masses considered, a linearly applied axial load along the span, the shear force component induced by the applied axial force as the member deforms and the cross section rotates, and the rotational and lateral restraints at the base support. The proposed model shows that the stability and dynamic behavior of 2D cantilever shear buildings are highly sensitive to the coupling effects just mentioned, particularly in members with limited rotational restraint and lateral bracing at the base support. Analytical results indicate that except for members with a perfectly clamped base (i.e., zero rotation of the cross sections), the stability and dynamic behavior of shear buildings are governed by the flexural moment equation, rather than the second-order differential equation of transverse equilibrium or shear-wave equation. This equation is formulated in the technical literature by simply applying transverse equilibrium “ignoring” the flexural moment equilibrium equation. This causes erroneous results in the stability and dynamic analyses of shear buildings with base support that is not perfectly clamped. The proposed equations reproduce, as special cases: (1) the nonclassical vibration modes of shear buildings including the inversion of modes of vibration when higher modes cross lower modes in shear buildings with soft conditions at the base, and the phenomena of double frequencies at certain values of beam slenderness (L/r); and (2) the phenomena of tension buckling in shear buildings. These phenomena have been discussed recently by the writer (2005) in columns made of elastomeric materials.