Abstract:
Retrofitting of low earthquake-resistant masonry structures is the key
issue for earthquake disaster mitigation in developing countries because it
is the only way to significantly reduce casualties in future events. To
promote structural retrofitting it is indispensable to equally consider
technical feasibility, economical affordability, and social acceptability of
the proposed retrofitting method. Furthermore, because self-construction is
a widespread practice in these countries, the retrofitting procedure should
also be simple to implement.
Polypropylene bands (PP-bands), which are conventionally used for
packing, are inexpensive, strong, light, and durable. Meshes made of these
bands have been proposed as suitable retrofitting material for masonry
houses. The suitability of this procedure has been verified experimentally
through static tests. In this paper, the results of 1/4 small scale shaking
table tests are presented. Four 1-story masonry models, two retrofitted and
the other not, were subjected to sinusoidal base input motions. The tests
showed that PP-band meshes dramatically improved the seismic structural
capacity. The retrofitted specimen withstood base motions with peak ground
displacements and peak ground velocities, several times higher than those
of the motion that caused the non-retrofitted structure total collapse. These
dynamic tests further corroborated the efficiency of PP-band mesh
retrofitting.
