Earthquake Performance of Two Vintage URM Buildings Retrofitted Using Surface Bonded GFRP: Case Study
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 19, Issue 5
Abstract
As part of a seismic retrofit scheme, surface bonded glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) fabric was applied to two unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings located in Christchurch, New Zealand. The unreinforced stone masonry of Christchurch Girls’ High School (GHS) and the unreinforced clay brick masonry Shirley Community Centre were retrofitted using surface bonded GFRP in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Much of the knowledge on the seismic performance of GFRP retrofitted URM was previously assimilated from laboratory-based experimental studies with controlled environments and loading schemes. The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence provided a rare opportunity to evaluate the GFRP retrofit applied to two vintage URM buildings and to document its performance when subjected to actual design-level earthquake-induced shaking. Both GFRP retrofits were found to be successful in preserving architectural features within the buildings as well as maintaining the structural integrity of the URM walls. Successful seismic performance was based on comparisons made between the GFRP retrofitted GHS building and the adjacent nonretrofitted Boys’ High School building, as well as on a comparison between the GFRP retrofitted and nonretrofitted walls of the Shirley Community Centre building. Based on detailed postearthquake observations and investigations, the GFRP retrofitted URM walls in the subject buildings exhibited negligible to minor levels of damage without delamination, whereas significant damage was observed in comparable nonretrofitted URM walls.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the Christchurch Arts Centre for granting permission to report the findings contained herein, Sika (NZ) Ltd and BBR Contech for details associated with the supply and installation of the GFRP retrofit, and Holmes Consulting Group for details of the GFRP retrofit design.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 19 • Issue 5 • October 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 8, 2014
Accepted: Dec 15, 2014
Published online: Mar 10, 2015
Discussion open until: Aug 10, 2015
Published in print: Oct 1, 2015
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