Lateral-Loading Tests on a Real RC Building Including Masonry Infill Panels with and without FRP Strengthening

Abstract

Two lateral-loading inelastic tests on a real masonry-infilled reinforced concrete (RC) building are presented. The first test has been carried out on the original building. Extensive damage to both masonry panels and RC elements (columns and staircase structure) has been produced, with out-of-plane collapse of almost all the walls parallel to the loading direction. The second test has been carried out on the repaired building. Namely, perimeter masonry panels were completely rebuilt and also strengthened by placing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rods into the mortar bed joints of masonry. Extensive damage was produced also during this second test. Test results are discussed and compared to each other. Besides, the ability of current analytical methods in predicting the shear strength of both unreinforced and FRP-reinforced masonry panels is investigated. Eventually, simple analytical models are proposed for the lateral response of the whole building, including also contribution from the staircase structure.