Innovative Application of FRPs for Seismic Strengthening of RC Shear Wall

Abstract

Synopsis: The small holes were drilled at the grid intersection on the concrete wall panel. A bundle of aramid strands was passed through the holes so that it sewed them in cross diagonal directions. As a result, the concrete wall panel was shut up into a net made of aramid sewing bands. Shear capacity increased by more than 25%. FRP sewing bands worked as confinement to the concrete under compressive stress rather than the tensile braces. Its performance is expected to be better than that reinforced by FRP sheet wrapping system, and more strengthening effect will be obtained with less amount of fiber material. This strengthening idea is originally proposed to apply it to the infill-brick wall. The concept and the effectiveness of the idea were verified by the tests on the scaled RC shear wall.