Experimental and numerical analysis of reinforced stone block masonry beams using GFRP reinforcement

International audienceThis paper deals with an experimental and numerical study of stone block masonry beams externally reinforced using glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP) strips. This study is conducted in order to investigate their flexural behavior. Eight masonry beams with 1.024 m span were loaded monotonically up to failure under four-point bending setup. All the tested beams have two courses of stone masonry units. Two unreinforced masonry beams were considered as the reference specimens. The remaining six beams were externally reinforced using hand-made GFRP strips with different layers of chopped glass strand mat (two, three and four layers).In the purpose to replicate ancient stone masonry structures, stone blocks were adopted and lime-based mortar was used to prepare beams. Typical load–displacement curves of the tested beams were compared and discussed.Finite element (FE) modelling analyses, considering the Drucker–Prager criterion, were performed using ABAQUS to predict ultimate loading capacity and the failure mode of the masonry beams. By comparing numerical results with experimental ones, over and above the effectiveness of GFRP strips as external strengthening for stone masonry beams, the proposed finite element model has been validated and can be used for numerical analysis of ancient masonry structures