Shear strengthening of URM clay walls with FRP systems

When an In-Plane load is applied on an infill wall, the ultimate capacity can be easily reached and the URM wall collapses. The main effect of this type of load is a shear stress, with the consequence of a shear failure, identifiable by the cracks along the diagonals. After the crack opening the wall has lost all his capacity and can easily collapse under a low Out-of-Plane load, endangering human lives. For this reason it’s fundamental to prevent and to control this type of failure. The use of FRP systems can became the satisfactory answer for this problem. By the use of FRP composites it’s possible to increase the ultimate capacity of a wall without any addition in its weight and stiffness, avoiding dangerous consequences in case of seismic events. Moreover, there is an aesthetic and logistic benefit from the use of FRP: there is a minimal loss of usable space and with a plaster it’s possible to hide the strengthening material.