Numerical analysis and experimental comparison on CFRP reinforced masonry walls subjected to transverse loads

The out-of-plane behaviour of walls, unreinforced and reinforced by using CFRP strips, isstudied by means of experimental investigation and numerical modelling. The FEM model is based on a linearconstitutive law both for the ashlars and the mortar joints constituting the masonry and the lines of potentialdelamination are taken into account by means of an interface element with bi-linear law, reproducing theopening failure mode. When the reinforcement is introduced, an interface element with bi-linear law is alsoused, reproducing the sliding failure mode. Comparison between the numerical and experimental resultsshows the reliability of the modelling. Moreover, a parametric analysis is carried out in order to investigate theinfluence of the characteristic parameters defining the interface law.