Construction of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings has been a common practice in many countries. Strengthening of such buildings located in seismically active regions has become extremely important. Although numerous strengthening techniques have been suggested in the literature, most of these methods are either qualitative in nature or too expensive. In this study, effectiveness of a simple strengthening scheme for URM buildings using surface-mounted steel bands is evaluated by carrying out experimental, numerical, and analytical studies. Three full-scale single-room specimens, unstrengthened as well as strengthened using two configurations of the strengthening scheme, are first tested under quasi-static cyclic loading. The strengthening is found to significantly improve the lateral-load behavior of the URM building. The experimental response data are then used to develop finite-element models for carrying out a parametric numerical study. It is observed that even small cross-sectional area of steel bands are sufficient to improve the lateral-load behavior of URM buildings. There is no appreciable advantage of using higher cross-sectional area of the steel bands. Finally, regression analysis is carried out using the numerical data, and an empirical model is developed for estimation of the lateral strength of the strengthened building.

Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings; Quasi-static tests; Strengthening; Surface-mounted steel bands, Lateral load behaviour