Compressive behavior of Square Masonry Columns strengthened with NSM Steel and GFRP Reinforcement

Abstract

As a material and a type of construction, masonry is one of the pioneers in the discipline of civil engineering. Several techniques have been used for strengthening masonry columns. An experiment was performed on masonry columns strengthened by NSM (steel and GFRP) reinforcement. The retrofitted specimens are vertically confined with NSM bars and horizontally confined by stirrups (a bundle of 45 turns of small binding wires). In total, 8 masonry column specimens were tested in uniaxial compression, out of which 2 specimens will serve as control specimens. Compression testing was performed on masonry columns to observe failure mode, stress-strain, and energy absorption capacity responses of the control and reinforced specimens. The addition of NSM reinforcement (Steel and GFRP) improves the overall stress-strain response of masonry columns, particularly in post-peak ranges.