Fibre-based composite materials for the seismic strengthening of masonry ring beams : cyclic tests on full-scale samples

Boem, Ingrid (author), Gattesco, Natalino (author), Rizzi, Emanuele (author), Dudine, Allen (author), Gams, Matija (author)

In masonry buildings, ring beams are crucial structural components for preventing out-of-plane failure of walls and fostering global seismic responses. The traditional approach of building reinforced concrete ring beams in existing structures is very invasive, which has motivated present research into new ways of constructing using modern fibre-based composite materials. Two solutions are tested by quasi-static, horizontal bending cyclic tests on full-scale, solid brick and rubble stone masonry. The first solution consists of horizontal Carbon Fibre–Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strips externally bonded on the outer masonry surface, while the second comprises embedded Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) meshes in the masonry bed joints. Simplified analytical models are applied to estimate the strength. Although CFRP strips are applied eccentrically, they proved effective for loads in both directions (the fibres fractured in tension) because of the continu ity of the reinforcement throughout orthogonal walls. The ring beams with GFRP-reinforced bed joints responded very well, as evidenced by tensile fracture of fibres. In both cases, bending resistance was significantly improved. However, tests also showed the importance of certain details to avoid stress concentrations in the fibres (e.g. rounded masonry corners) and bed joint slippage (e.g. full embedment of the GFRP meshes with the mortar).

• Language: English
• Keywords: civil engineering, structural refurbishment, composites, masonry, ring beams, experimental test, fibre-reinforced polymer
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 24 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 58, iss. mar., [article no.] 97
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-168073
• UDC: 69:004
• ISSN on article: 1359-5997
• DOI: 10.1617/s11527-025-02617-w
• COBISS.SI-ID: 230336515
• Publication date in RUL: 27.03.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials and structures
• Shortened title: Mat. struct.
• Publisher: E. & F. N. Spon, RILEM Publications
• ISSN: 1359-5997
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18240005

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Potresno utrjevanje z vodoravnimi zidnimi vezmi iz kompozitnih materialov - ciklični testi na vzorcih v naravnem merilu
• Keywords: gradbeništvo, potresna utrditev, kompozitni materiali, zidovje, vodoravne vezi, eksperimentalni test

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0185-2019
• Name: Potresno inženirstvo

• Funder: Italian Department of Civil Protection
• Project number: Reluis 2022-2024, Reluis 2024-2026, WP5