FERROCEMENT APPLICATIONS IN REPAIR AND RETROFITTING OF BRICK MASONRY COLUMNS

Abstract

Brickwork is one of the traditional building material, used for the construction of masonry walls, columns etc. to resist mainly compressive loads. Ferrocement encasement can be applied with advantage to brick masonry to strengthen new construction. The wire encasement resists the lateral expansion of columns caused by vertical compression. This introduces lateral confinement, and structural properties of masonry are modified. The objective of the present investigation is to experimentally study the behaviour of brick masonry columns. The main issue is to examine if jacketing of brick masonry column by ferrocement helps in providing a substantial strength increase as in case of concrete. The experimental programme consists of casting of four plain brick masonry columns of 1.5 m height each and (22.5 X 22.5 cm.) in cross section then two of them were encased by ferrocement mesh in double layer . all specimen were cured for 28 days and then tested. All the test results are presented either in tabular form or in the form of graph and finally relevant conclusions are drawn. Also scope for future work is mention.