Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strengthening of Unreinforced Masonry Walls Subject to Out-of-Plane Loads

Unreinforced masonry (URM) walls are prone to failure when subjected to out-of-plane loads caused by earthquakes or high wind pressure. This paper presents the results of an experimental program on the flexural behavior of URM walls strengthened with externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates, as well as on the influence of the putty filler on the bond strength. Based on the experimental evidence, the paper provides a design approach for the strengthening with FRP laminates of URM walls that are analyzed as simply supported members. The database includes URM walls strengthened with different amounts and types of externally bonded FRP reinforcement.