Lateral Cyclic Load Test of Masonry Infilled RC Frames Strengthened with Ultra-High Performance Concrete Diagonal Strips

Abstract

Infilled frame structures have been a common form of construction. However, their behavior is one of the least understood and investigated among all the major construction systems. For a long time, these structures were built with a general lack of conclusive research and design information. An experimental program was undertaken which aims at investigating the behavior of masonry infilled RC frames strengthened with Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). In this study, UHPC cross diagonal strips, having a width of 355 mm, were bonded onto the masonry substrate using high strength epoxy mortar. Single-side strengthening layout was adopted due to the fact that it is frequently implemented in the case of external façade walls of existing masonry buildings to preserve the building exterior aesthetics and also on internal walls which have some sorts of artworks on one side. Regarding the CFRP strengthened infilled frame, 60% and 160% increase was achieved in the lateral load carrying capacity and energy dissipation, respectively, when compared to the reference frame. Furthermore, the drift capacity at failure was improved by 1.58 and 1.40 times for UHPC and CFRP strengthened specimens, respectively, when compared with the reference specimen.