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In-Plane Seismic Strengthening of Brick Masonry Using Steel and Plastic Meshes
Safi Ullah1, Syed Hassan Farooq1, Muhammad Usman2
1Military College of Engineering (MCE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Risalpur 24090, Pakistan.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 10, 2022
Summary
Steel mesh reinforcement significantly enhances the seismic performance of unreinforced masonry structures. This strengthening method improves shear capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation, crucial for seismic resilience.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Unreinforced masonry structures exhibit brittle behavior, making them susceptible to seismic damage.
- Effective strengthening methods are essential to improve the seismic resilience of existing masonry buildings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the seismic performance of brick masonry strengthened with steel and plastic meshes.
- To compare the effectiveness of different mesh reinforcements under in-plane shear loading.
Main Methods:
- Twenty masonry wallet specimens (600 × 600 × 113 mm) were constructed with consistent materials and workmanship.
- Fifteen specimens were reinforced with steel and plastic meshes.
- Specimens underwent in-plane static cyclic diagonal tension (shear) testing to analyze critical parameters.
Main Results:
- Steel-reinforced masonry demonstrated superior seismic performance compared to unreinforced and plastic-reinforced specimens.
- Steel reinforcement increased shear capacity by 1.3 times, energy dissipation by 14 times, and ductility ratio by 6.3 times.
- Failure modes, stiffness degradation, and strain behavior were analyzed for all specimen types.
Conclusions:
- Steel mesh reinforcement is a highly effective technique for enhancing the seismic performance of brick masonry.
- The study provides quantitative data on the improvements in shear capacity, energy dissipation, and ductility achieved with steel reinforcement.
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