Numerical analysis of un-reinforced masonry walls retrofitted with fiber reinforced polymer under in-plane static cyclic loading

This study presents a comprehensive numerical analysis of Un-Reinforced Masonry (URM) walls retrofitted with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials under in-plane static cyclic loading. Utilizing a three-dimensional macro-modeling approach, the research investigates the influence of various retrofitting configurations, wall geometries, and FRP ply counts on seismic performance. The finite element model, developed in ANSYS, incorporates the SOLID65 and SHELL181 elements with the Tsai-Wu failure criterion to simulate complex failure mechanisms in both masonry and FRP layers. Model verification was conducted using experimental data from ElGawady et al. (2004), demonstrating a strong correlation. Parametric studies revealed that full-coverage and H-frame FRP configurations significantly enhance lateral load capacity, energy dissipation, and ductility. The results provide practical insights into efficient retrofitting strategies for seismic upgrading of masonry structures.