Numerical analysis of selection of the most effective configuration of CFRP composites reinforcement of masonry specimens

This paper presents an investigation into the effectiveness of using carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) composites to strengthen unreinforced masonry walls to resist in-plane loads. CFRP composites are expensive and if there is a possibility to avoid their application on the whole masonry surface it should be checked and analysed. In the paper the numerical analysis of that problem is presented. The first part is concerned with definitions of the masonry material model and parameters applied in analyses. Then results of the preliminary analysis are presented. It includes the numerical model of joint masonry with CFRP sheets and also a comparison between shell and plane models. The last part of the paper contains a selection of the most effective configurations of reinforcement in two masonry work ranges: - 1. Closed to the elastic masonry work and 2. Inelastic (degraded) range. Besides the total masonry surface covering, the stripes of CFRP composites in horizontal, vertical and grid systems are analysed. All calculation are carried out using FEM program.