Damping of unreinforced masonry walls retrofitted with CFRP

Abstract

Seventeen masonry panels were tested with in-plane loading. Three panels were unreinforced. Fourteen panels were reinforced with either CFRP laminate strips or with CFRP fabric sheets. Retrofits were placed either horizontally or diagonally, and on different sets of panels the loading was either monotonic or cyclic. Strength and damping were found. All types of retrofit with all arrangements of reinforcement produced net increases in strength under all loading. The tests showed that the strength was increased more by laminate strips than fabric sheets. However, conflicting previous studies, horizontally reinforced panels had slightly higher damping.