Fiber-Reinforced Composites for the Strengthening of Masonry Structures

Masonry structures are prone to extensive damage followed by failure and collapse when subjected to loads resulting from wind, earthquake and other natural or man-made events. Recent earthquakes and terrorist acts have clearly demonstrated that the development of effective and affordable strategies for the strengthening of masonry is urgently needed. As a response to these challenges, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites may offer technically and economically viable solutions. In the context of work undertaken worldwide, this paper presents an overview of research studies and field applications of masonry strengthening with FRP composites as conducted in the last five years at the University of Missouri-Rolla. In particular, the paper covers material forms and installation techniques, namely: externally bonded laminates, near surface mounted bars, and post-tensioning; experimental test programs dealing with the out-of-plane and in-plane behavior of walls with discussion of failure modes, field validation and applications including historical structures. Without providing full details, an effort has been made to address issues related to design so that practicing engineers can immediately appreciate the potential of this technology and understand the key parameters affecting performance and the areas that need further experimentation.