Quasi-static cyclic tests of confined masonry walls retrofitted with mortar overlays reinforced with either welded-wire mesh or steel fibers

Abstract Overlays made of high-slump mortar reinforced with a steel welded-wire mesh are one of the most common techniques to retrofit low-rise confined masonry walls. An alternative to this technique is the use of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Mortar (SFRM) overlays to strengthen and enhance the shear capacity of existing masonry walls. In this paper, test results are presented of two full-scale, multi-hollow clay brick confined walls strengthened with reinforced mortar overlays. The overlays consisted of a high-slump mortar reinforced with a) welded-wire reinforcement in one wall and b) hooked end steel fibers in the second wall. Overall height and length of the walls were 2.5 m and 4.24 m, respectively. Both walls were tested under in-plane, quasi-static, reversed cyclic lateral loads. Performance of the retrofitted walls is evaluated in terms of crack patterns, hysteretic response, and lateral strength and displacement capacity. The test data show that both retrofit techniques performed very well and they each restored the strength and deformation capacity to that of the original walls.