Fibre Reinforced Polymers in the Rehabilitation of Damaged Masonry

The structural masonry system is a traditional and well-established technology for building affordable housing, largely utilized around the world. However, a series of structural pathologies and collapses have been reported for this construction system. The current work deals with the use of fibre reinforcement to retrofit this kind of structures. In this context, the use of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) and glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) for the rehabilitation of damaged small masonry walls (here called wallettes) was investigated experimentally. This study sought to measure the maximum loading carrying capacity of the wallettes and to assess the possible structural rehabilitation in the damaged masonry structures after their reinforcement with the composite polymers. The experimental results presented, in general, the recovery (or even rise) of the original compressive loading bearing capacity of the structures due to the external fibres bonding. These results are a good indication of effectiveness of the use FRP in these situations.