Flexural strength of FRP reinforced masonry walls subject to reverse cyclic loading and vertical pre-compression

Abstract

This paper presents the results of experimental tests for six clay brick masonry walls vertically reinforced with near-surface-mounted CFRP strips. The total amount of FRP used in each test was constant, only the type of loading (i.e. static versus cyclic) and vertical pre-compression (i.e. 0.0 MPa, 0.1 MPa and 0.2 MPa) was varied. The results of these tests indicate that cyclic loading degrades the mechanical interlock between the NSM reinforcement giving a slight reduction in strength once debonding commences. In contrast, the effect of increased axial pre-compression (up to 0.2 MPa) is negligible, primarily only increasing the flexural stiffness of a wall.