Review of current application schemes in reinforcing masonry walls with modern materials

Masonry, one of the oldest construction materials, has a historical significance in building structures. However, unreinforced masonry (URM) structures frequently exhibit poor performance in the face of seismic events, strong winds, shocks and impacts, often failing in a brittle manner. The primary objective of reinforcing URM structures is to enhance their resilience against lateral loads and tension forces. Recent decades have witnessed a concentrated effort on seismic retrofitting and strengthening methods, employing composite and mesh-type materials. This comprehensive review focusses on the practical applications of various reinforcement types for masonry walls, emphasizing three commonly used systems: external surface reinforcement, near surface reinforcement and internal surface reinforcement. The main goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques, providing a thorough overview of their advantages and limitations. Additionally, an in-depth exploration of the literature examines how different reinforcement systems impact the mechanical properties of distinct categories of masonry walls, including clay brick, concrete blocks, and autoclaved concrete blocks (AAC) blocks. This systematic review not only provides valuable insights for researchers and engineers but also highlights current research trends and suggests potential avenues for future exploration.