EFFECT OF WET-DRY CYCLING ON BOND BEHAVIOR OF GFRP STRENGTHENED HISTORIC MASONRY STRUCTURES

Abstract

The objective of this research work is to determine the effect of wet-dry cycling on bond behavior of historic masonry structures strengthened by Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). Shear bond testing was carried out through total 36 specimens exposed to dry, full moisture or wet-dry cycling conditions.  The selected samples were then tested at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days. Post-ageing test was also preceded on total sixty masonry prisms exposed to dry, full moisture or wet-dry cycling conditions. The compressive strengths of selected samples were then tested at 0, 40, 70 and 100 days. The test results showed an obvious decrease of the bond strength between GFRP sheets and bricks in the wet-dry cycling condition. For masonry prisms with or without GFRP strengthening, in the first 40 days, the compressive strength of GFRP bonded prism decreased quickly to the value near that of prism without GFRP. After 40 days the rate of decrease became slow, which means that, sheets retrofitted outside the masonry prisms helped to improve their durability by reducing water permeation.