Mechanical response of solid clay brickwork under eccentric loading. Part II: CFRP Reinforced Masonry

The mechanical response of solid clay brickwork in presence of CFRP near-surface reinforcement and under eccentric loads is addressed in this paper. Experimental tests on CFRP reinforced masonry (CFRP-RM) prisms under eccentric loads are compared to similar tests on URM specimens in order to give a preliminary insight in the collapse mechanisms of CFRP-reinforced masonry. While URM is found to exhibit a quasi-brittle response, so raising objections to several analytical procedures for masonry bridge assessment, CFRP reinforcement may be responsible of a significant increase in the brickwork compressive strength and ductility. Some considerations on the cracking processes inside reinforced masonry prisms are discussed