Author
KUBICA, J.; KAUA, M.
Silesian University of Technology, Department of Structural Engineering

Abstract
Modern composite materials, like strips, sheets or bars made of carbon (CRFP) and glass (GRFP) as well as aramid (AFRP) fibers are every year more and more popular also for masonry structures strengthening. Unfortunately, these types of strengthening laminates are still not generally accepted and their using is not so good understood. First, carried out in Poland, investigations of effectiveness of using for strengthening different types of laminates in case of small AAC block masonry wallettes under diagonal compressive loading are presented. Three series of wallettes were tested – two with using CRFP and GRFP sheets and other one, not strengthened as reference members. For both tested strengthening materials their significant positive influence on maximal shear strength as well as ultimate value of in-plane deformation at the state of failure was determined. Strengthened wallettes were characterised by higher ductility and energy dissipation. Moreover, no significant differences in behaviour and failure modes (cracks’ patterns) between wallettes strengthened using both types of tested materials were observed.

Key words
AAC blocks; diagonal tension; strengthening; CRFP laminates; GRFP laminates; shear strength