Experimental study of masonry walls strengthened with CFRP

In order to study the ductility and the lateral load carrying capacity of the masonry walls strengthened with CFRPs (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer sheets), three pieces of masonry walls subjected to cyclic loads with low frequency and vertical load of constant amplitude have been tested. Two different strengthening methods have been used. The strengthening efficiency is affected by the strengthening method. A simplified calculation approach has been introduced based on the experimental test results, and the theoretical results agree reasonably well with the experimental results. It is found that the critical loads, the critical displacements, the ultimate loads, the ultimate displacements and the ductile coefficients of the masonry walls strengthened with CFRPs improve remarkably (6%~57%). Therefore, the masonry structures strengthened with CFRPs are of better ductility and of better lateral load carrying<br />capacity than the masonry structures without any strengthening measurements.