Title:
Out-of-Plane Static and Blast Resistance of UnreinforcedMasonry Wall ConnectionsStrengthened with FRP
Author(s):
P. Carney and J.J. Myers
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
230
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
229-248
Keywords:
blast resistance; FRP strengthening; masonry wallconnections; masonry wall retrofits
DOI:
10.14359/14835
Date:
10/1/2005
Abstract:
Recent world events have illustrated that the sustainability of buildings toblast loads is an ever increasing issue. Many older buildings contain unreinforcedmasonry (URM) infill walls. Due to their low flexural capacity and their brittle mode offailure, these walls have a low resistance to out-of-plane loads, which includes blastloads. As a result, an effort has been undertaken to examine retrofit methods that arefeasible to enhance their out-of-plane resistance. The use of externally bonded andnear surface mounted (NSM) Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) laminates and rods havebeen proven to increase the out-of-plane load capacity.This paper investigates the out-of-plane behavior of URM walls strengthened with FRPsubjected to static and blast loading and the capability of developing continuitybetween the FRP strengthening material and the surrounding reinforced concrete (RC)frame system. There were two phases to this research study. Phase I evaluatedstrengthened URM walls’ out-of-plane performance using static tests. Twostrengthening methods were utilized, including the application of glass FRP (GFRP)laminates to the wall’s surface and the installation of near surface mounted (NSM)GFRP rods. In both methods, the strengthening material was anchored to boundarymembers above and below the wall on some of the specimens in the research program.The effects of bond pattern, and the effects of FRP laminate strip width were alsoinvestigated in this phase. Phase II involved the field blast testing of two walls todynamically study the continuity detail for laminates and verify the results obtained inPhase I. The development of continuity between the FRP materials and the surroundingframing system is one approach to improving the blast resistance of URM infill walls.