Innovative Connection of Non-Load-Bearing Walls Using a Spatially Arranged Silica Glass Mesh

Although non-structural walls do not determine the structural safety of a building, they are responsible for its functionality by serving as acoustic, thermal, and fire-resistant partitions. They may be freely located and relocated and are typically constructed during the finishing stage of building works. Reliable performance of non-structural walls depends on appropriate connections to floors and adjacent walls. Connections to walls are most commonly achieved using traditional masonry bonding or sufficiently durable wall connectors, usually made of steel. An alternative to steel connectors may be connectors made of polymer-based materials or meshes. This paper proposes an innovative method for connecting non-structural masonry walls using a spatially arranged mesh, which serves not only as reinforcement of the wall connection but also as reinforcement of the bed joints. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this method in comparison with other connection techniques, including traditional solutions. Experimental investigations were carried out using an original test setup on 12 specimens made of AAC masonry units, divided into three series: series P-traditional connection (reference series), series H-connection with mesh placed in bed joints, and series SHP-connection with spatially arranged mesh. Silica Glass Mesh (SGM), intended for reinforcement of bed joints in AAC masonry, was used in the study. The experiments focused on the analysis of connection behavior and load-bearing capacity, with particular emphasis on maximum load values and failure mechanisms. Individual stages of the behavior of mesh-reinforced connections were identified, and empirical relationships enabling estimation of maximum loads were developed. The results confirmed that the traditional connection achieved the highest load-bearing capacity. However, as expected, the mesh-reinforced connections-particularly those with the spatial mesh arrangement-exhibited a more stable response and a greater ability for progressive load transfer. The SHP series connections with spatially arranged meshes exhibited significantly lower load-bearing capacity compared to the reference unreinforced connections, while at the same time demonstrating substantially greater deformability. The stiffness degradation in the mesh-reinforced connections did not occur abruptly, as observed in the reference models, which makes them an effective alternative for practical applications. Technical models for predicting forces and displacements of connections reinforced with spatially arranged meshes and meshes placed in bed joints were also developed.