Retrofitting Masonry Walls against Out-Of-Plane Loading with Timber Based Panels

Unreinforced masonry walls are prone to failure when subjected to out-of-plane loading. This is due to their low performance in bending, and often the lack of appropriate connection to returning walls and floors. This paper investigates the possibility to use oriented strand boards (OSB) panels to improve the out-of-plane performance of brick masonry walls. The proposed technique considers securing OSB type-3 panels behind masonry walls with chemical and mechanical connections. The work presents finite element models to predict their behaviour. The models have been calibrated and validated through a three-phase experimental campaign, aimed at (a) characterizing the main structural components, (b) studying the out-of-plane behaviour of small-scale masonry prisms and (c) studying the behaviour of 1115 × 1115 × 215 mm masonry walls. The finite element models developed are based on a micromodel technique developed in ABAQUS and demonstrated to adequately capture the behaviour of both plain and retrofitted models to the ultimate load. The models also show an excellent correlation of the compressive damage and tensile damage with the experimental failure pattern. Generally, the model predicted the peak load and the corresponding failure and toughness to within less than 10% of the average test results.