Modern strengthening techniques for masonry structures under impulsive loading

Abstract

Fiber Reinforced Polymers have become a popular material for strengthening of masonry structures. The performance of this technique is strongly dependent on the bond between the FRP and the substrate. This work aims to study the behavior of the bond between different strengthening systems (EBR and NSM), different materials (GFRP and CFRP) and different substrates (Brick and concrete) at different strain rates. A Drop Weight Impact Machine specially developed for pull-off tests (single shear tests) is used with different masses and different heights introducing different deformation rates. The strain rate effect on the failure mode, shear capacity, effective bond length and the bond-slip laws is determined from the experimental results. Empirical relations of dynamic increase factors (DIF) for these materials and techniques are also presented