Experimental Research Of Hollow Brick Masonry Strengthened With Common GFRP Sheet

Masonry structures strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) is a new retrofit method in the field of civil engineering. This method has been found to be economical and efficient to apply nowadays,because of its corrosion resistance,low manpower demand for application and minimal changes to geometrical dimensions of the member.Based on the predecessors' work,this paper presents the experiments conducted to investigate respectively the compression capability,shear capability,flexural capability and seismic capability of masonry specimens strengthened with common GFRP sheet. The failure modes,the ultimate strength,the strengthening mechanism,the effect of various parameters on their behavior and theory analysis of masonry specimens are all discussed. The following are summarizes of experimental study and theoretical analysis:1. Nine masonry specimens bonded with GFRP sheet are test for compression strengthening. The parameter considered in the analysis is the thickness of GFRP. The results of the experiments indicate that significant enhancement of compression strength can be realized by bonding GFRP sheet to masonry specimens. For the failure of specimens is control by masonry strength,adding the thickness of GFRP cannot enhance the compression strength of masonry.2. Fifteen masonry specimens bonded with GFRP sheet are test for shear strengthening. The parameters considered in the analysis are the strengthening modes and the thickness of GFRP. The experiment results indicate that bonding GFRP sheet can enhance the shear strength of masonry specimens greatly. For the failure of specimens is control by masonry strength,adding the thickness of GFRP cannot enhance the shear strength of masonry.3. Two masonry specimens bonded with GFRP sheet are test for flexural strengthening. The experiment results indicate that the flexural capacity and ductility of masonry specimens is greatly increased when strengthened with GFRPsheet. Furthermore,a practical calculation method is given to predict the ultimate flexural capacity of masonry specimens strengthened with GFRP sheet. The calculating results shows good agree with the experimental results.4. The seismic behavior of three hollow brick walls bonded with GFRP sheet are studied by contrast testing. The parameters considered in the analysis are GFRP strengthening modes and initial cracks. The experiment results indicate that bonding GFRP sheet can improve the ultimate shear capacity and ultimate displacement of brick walls obviously,and the wall strengthened with GFRP sheet have greater energy dissipation capacity. The dynamic characteristic of masonry members will not been changed by bonding GFRP sheet. Furthermore,simplified calculation methods is given to predict the ultimate shear capacity of masonry wall strengthened with GFRP sheet. The calculating results are matched well with the experimental results.