Flexural Strengthening of Brick Masonry Walls using Glass Fibre Fabric

摘要

Masonry buildings are the major building stock around the world and fail in earthquakes due to low tensile and shear resistance. A majority of the tenements in India are unreinforced masonry structures and are weak and vulnerable to even moderate earthquakes. Seismic performance of these masonry structures can be improved by bonding required thickness of carbon/glass fibre fabric/sheets. The main objective is to study the out of plane beha viour of brick masonry load bearing walls strengthened with glass fibre fabric. Three brick masonry wall specimens were cast using country bricks with low strength mortar as used in the field construction, and tested with and without strengthening under constant axial and monotonic out of plane loads. Axial deformation, out of plane deflections and strains were recorded. The flexural strength and ductility were increased significantly on brick masonry walls strengthened with glass fibre fabric. The major problem of loss in human lives by falling of bricks from the brick masonry walls during an earthquake can also be avoided by full surface bonding of glass fibre fabric.