Composite Materials Reinforcement of Existing Masonry Walls

Abstract

Historically, masonry buildings have been designed with little or no regard for the effects of seismic loads. Recent earthquakes in California, Japan, and other parts of the world have demonstrated that these older masonry structures are extremely susceptible to the lateral forces imposed during such an event. The upgrading of such structures to meet current building code requirements has become a priority in the field of earthquake engineering; however, many of the reinforcing systems currently in use are either ineffective, economically unfeasible, or aesthetically inappropriate. Current research in the use of composite materials for the reinforcement of existing masonry walls has shown that such a system can substantially increase the lateral stability of the structure with minimal impact to the existing foundation. While outlining the preliminary results of the research, this paper focuses primarily on the architectural implications of reinforcing existing masonry walls with composite materials. The problems associated with the various masonry substrates, building code issues related to fire and smoke hazard, and compatible “architectural” finishes are evaluated.