Comparison of Efficiency of Shotcrete and FRP System for Strengthening of Masonry Structures by ABAQUS Software

Abstract

A high percentage of buildings made worldwide are buildings made of masonry materials, which are often built before the development of the latest seismic design criteria and have weak shear strength inside plane and bend outside. In this paper, by understanding the necessity of strengthening masonry structures against earthquakes and comparing the system of repair and seismic strengthening of buildings with masonry materials, the ability of both shotcrete and FRP system has been evaluated and simulated. The results of finite element analysis of a sample of brick buildings modeled in ABAQUS software have been compared with the results of tests performed on unreinforced and masonry buildings and reinforced brick buildings with reinforced concrete coating. Also, in order to investigate the effect of strengthening with FRP layers on the seismic performance of unreinforced masonry walls, several masonry walls reinforced with FRP layers were modeled at the same time and with the same behavior as damaged concrete with plastic properties in compressive and tensile loading. The effect of each of these characteristics has been investigated by comparing the hysteresis and energy-time curves. The results show that the shotcrete reinforcement method, improves the final strength and ductility of the masonry wall, has weaknesses such as imposing additional mass on the foundation and the need for manpower and special equipment, which leads to exorbitant costs. FRP plate due to features such as high strength and low weight, immunity against corrosion, and easy and fast installation; it has become a suitable alternative to traditional methods for seismic retrofitting.