Author

SAYARI, A.; DONCHEV, T.; LIMBACHIYA, M. C.; KEW, H. Y.
School of Civil Engineering and construction, Faculty of Engineering, Kingston University, London

Abstract

Unreinforced masonry buildings form a significant part of our cultural heritage. One of the most important aspects for old and historic buildings is the vulnerability to lateral loads such as earthquake and wind loads and the need for appropriate strengthening.
Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are recently developed as an option for strengthening of masonry buildings. The application of FRP composites as externally bonded reinforcement in repairing and strengthening masonry walls has become more attractive than traditional methods which are based on steel elements. Their excellent strength-to-weight ratio, easy installation and minimised damage for the existing structure make them the best option for strengthening buildings and structures.
This paper report on analytical finite element models which are developed to predict the response of masonry walls in case of out-of-plane loading. The wall panels made of clay bricks have been investigated and the effectiveness of different types of FRP elements used for strengthening is analysed.
The behaviour of FRP strengthened masonry walls subject to out-of-plane loading is examined and then compared with the published results in this subject area.

Key words
Masonry, FRP, Out-of-plane, Modelling, Strengthening