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Seismic strengthening of brick masonry by composite coatings: an experimental study

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Abstract

In this paper an extensive experimental study is presented in which the efficiency of seismic strengthening of brick masonry walls, typical in Slovenia and wider region, is analyzed. The results of cyclic shear tests of 24 walls are presented. The walls were strengthened using different materials and different layouts of the reinforcement. Externally bonded glass and carbon composites were used for strengthening and were applied to the wall by either cementitious mortar or epoxy resin. 12 walls were first tested up to the point where repair was still feasible and then strengthened and retested until collapse to study the efficiency of repair/strengthening. The rest were strengthened in the undamaged state. In addition to cyclic shear tests, the tests of the composite-masonry bond in double shear lap configuration were also performed. Results of cyclic shear tests show significant differences between different types of strengthening with shear strength resistance improvements of up to 130%. The displacement capacity was barely increased, except for one type of strengthening, thus confirming the importance of correct strengthening layout and anchoring. The observed failure mechanisms were characterized by debonding of coating which resulted in sudden resistance and stiffness degradation, leading to brittle collapse of the walls. The performance of composite-to-masonry bond in double shear lap test was significantly better than in cyclic shear tests. Finally, the resistance of strengthened walls is estimated using simple numerical models based on measured bond strength.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia and Sika d.o.o., Prevale, Slovenia, brach company of Sika AG, Switzerland as part of the applied project L2-0578. Valuable discussions with Dr. Miha Kramar are also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva 12, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Matija Gams & Miha Tomaževič

  2. Sika Services AG, Zurich, Switzerland

    Thierry Berset

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  1. Matija Gams
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  2. Miha Tomaževič
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  3. Thierry Berset
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Correspondence to Matija Gams.

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Gams, M., Tomaževič, M. & Berset, T. Seismic strengthening of brick masonry by composite coatings: an experimental study. Bull Earthquake Eng 15, 4269–4298 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-017-0136-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-017-0136-4

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