URM walls strengthened with fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane load

Most existing exterior walls, particularly un-reinforced masonry (URM) walls, have limited strength to withstand in-plane and out-of-plane forces caused by earthquake or wind. Current retrofitting techniques used to improve flexural and shear capacity of URM walls include internal and external reinforcement such as: placing steel bars in block cavities and grouting, post-tensioning with steel tendons, crack stitching, and adhering fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). This paper evaluates the effectiveness of strengthening URM walls using a novel carbon fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composite system as an alternative strengthening technique. The experimental program comprises 36 URM wall specimens made from concrete masonry blocks and clay bricks, which are strengthened with two different amounts of FRCM reinforcement, namely: one and four reinforcement fabrics. The specimens are subjected to in-plane diagonal compressive force or out-of-plane uniformly distributed pressure. The experimental evidence demonstrates the feasibility of FRCM strengthening on improving the structural performance of masonry walls in terms of flexural and shear capacity, and pseudo-ductility.