Unreinforced Brick Walls with Openings Rehabilitated using U & L-Shaped Steel Plates

摘要

In the present study, five unreinforced brick walls of dimensions 66 cm height, 86 cm width and 10 cm thickness with 25cm x 25cm opening dimensions were constructed and tested under uniform loading. One wall was tested as control wall and was loaded until failure. Three walls were loaded up to 80% of failure load till cracks occurred and then rehabilitated using (2x40mm, 2x60mm, 2x80mm) of L&Ushaped steel plate inside opening corners welded with U & Lshaped steel plate at both sides. Another wall was loaded up to 80% of failure load till cracks occurred and then rehabilitated using diagonal steel plate around opening at both sides. The obtained test results show that the walls rehabilitated by using different dimensions of L&Ushaped steel plate gives an increase in the load carrying capacity up to 63.64% of the control ultimate capacity but no significant increases in ductility. As well as for wall rehabilitated by using diagonal steel plate around opening at both sides gives an increase in the load carrying capacity up to 29.70%of the control ultimate capacity but no significant increases in ductility. However, increasing dimensions of L&Ushaped steel plate used in rehabilitation increases the load carrying capacity of walls and no significant increases in ductility.