Title:
Flexural Design of Masonry Walls Reinforced with FRP Bars Based on Full-Scale Structural Tests
Author(s):
Nancy Torres, J. Gustavo Tumialan, Antonio Nanni, Richard M. Bennet, and Francisco J. De Caso Basalo
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
356
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
291-311
Keywords:
deflections; FRP bars; lap splice length; flexural strength; masonry wall design; new construction; out-of-plane
DOI:
10.14359/51737277
Date:
10/1/2022
Abstract:
This article presents a protocol for the flexural design of masonry walls reinforced with FRP bars. The proposed design methodology is based on the results of a research program on masonry walls reinforced with FRP bars subjected to out-of-plane (flexural) loads. The research program included testing full-scale masonry walls with different thicknesses, widths, and amounts and types of FRP reinforcement. The research program also included testing of full-scale masonry wall specimens to evaluate the effect of i) different bar lap splice lengths, ii) FRP bar diameter; iii) position of the FRP; iv) masonry strength and v) masonry material. Forty-seven masonry walls, 2.19 m high, were subjected to out-of-plane loads, and tested under quasi-static loading cycles. The test specimens included walls constructed using concrete and clay masonry units, reinforced with glass FRP (GFRP) in different configurations. All the FRP-reinforced masonry walls showed a bilinear moment-deflection curve with one steep slope up to the cracking of masonry and a decrease in stiffness after cracking. After failure occurred and as the out-of-plane load was progressively removed, the walls returned to a position close to the initial vertical position. The flexural design approach for FRP-reinforced walls provided good agreement with the experimental results.