Retrofitting of Full-Scale Confined Masonry Building Using Ferro-Cement Overlay

In this paper, the performance of a full-scale single-story confined masonry building was investigated by subjecting it to quasi-static cyclic loading. The configuration and materials used for the test specimen were typical of those found in the northern areas of Pakistan as well as in the surrounding regions. The retrofitting of the building was done using ferro-cement overlay and cement-based grout injection. Damage mechanism and force-deformation behavior of the retrofitted structure are compared with those of the original structure to quantify the beneficial effects of the retrofitting. It was found that the lateral stiffness, lateral load, and deformation capacity of the retrofitted building were improved, whereas the ductility decreased slightly. The damage mechanism was transformed from mixed compression-flexural-shear to a more stable flexural-rocking mode. The results from this paper are expected to guide future research efforts on developing design recommendations for, and vulnerability assessment of, similar buildings around the world.