Experimental and numerical analysis of the cyclic in-plane behaviour of retrofitted masonry walls

This paper presents an experimental study focused on the mechanical performance of retrofitted brick masonry walls under in-plane cyclic shear test. The specimens were tested in two configurations: unreinforced and retrofitted with Basalt Textile Reinforced Mortar (BTRM). The experimental programme aimed to study the suitability and efficiency of the solutions to increase the mechanical strength, the displacement capacity and the dissipation capacity. In addition, an advanced numerical model was used for the analysis of the strengthened walls subjected to shear compression tests. The masonry was modelled as a continuous homogeneous macro model in which the nonlinear behaviour was described with a constitute model based on Continuum-Damage mechanics. The adopted model was able to capture correctly the main aspects of the observed experimental behaviour, such as initial stiffness, failure mechanism, and loadbearing capacity. The numerical results were compared with the experimental outcome to investigate the ability of the model to describe the in-plane behaviour of brick masonry walls retrofitted with BTRM.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU) of the Spanish Government, the State Agency of Research (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the SEVERUS project (“Multilevel evaluation of seismic vulnerability and risk mitigation of masonry buildings in resilient historical urban centres”, ref. num. RTI2018-099589-BI00), and from Kerakoll Ibérica S.A. through the RTD project “Seismic Strengthening of Masonry walls” A-01278. Support from Secretaria d’Universitats i Investigació de la Generalitat de Catalunya through a predoctoral grant awarded to the first author is also gratefully acknowledged.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats SosteniblesObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats Sostenibles::11.4 - Redoblar els esforços per a protegir i salvaguardar el patrimoni cultural i natural del mónObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al ClimaObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima::13.1 - Enfortir la resiliència i la capacitat d’adaptació als riscos relacionats amb el clima i els desastres naturals a tots els païsosPostprint (published version