Unreinforced masonry wall strengthening method and setup

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for strengthening unreinforced masonry walls ( 3 ) having at least two blocks and at least one joint (mortar) bed with an adhesive layer, between these blocks; with the method consisting of the steps of grooving at least one horizontal channel ( 6 ) on the joint bed, positioning at least one strengthening element ( 1 ) inside and along the mentioned channel ( 6 ), and then filling the channel ( 6 ) with mortar ( 2 ). The present invention further relates to a special strengthening element ( 1 ) embodying this method.

1 . A method for strengthening unreinforced masonry walls ( 3 ) of at least two blocks and at least one joint bed with an adhesive layer, between the blocks; comprising the following steps, 
 grooving at least one horizontal channel ( 6 ) along the mentioned joint (mortar) bed,    positioning at least one strengthening element ( 1 ) within this channel ( 6 ),    and filling the mentioned channel ( 6 ) with mortar ( 2 ).    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the following steps: 
 positioning at least one tubular element ( 5 ) that opens up to the exterior face of the wall on one side, and to the inside of the channel ( 6 ), on the other side; before the mortar ( 2 ) filling step is carried out on the channel ( 6 );    injecting mortar slurry through the tubular element ( 5 ) after the mortar ( 2 ) filling step is completed.    
   
   
       3 . The method of claim one wherein the subject strengthening element ( 1 ) is a carbon-based material.  
   
   
       4 . The method of claim two wherein the subject strengthening element ( 1 ) is a carbon-based material.  
   
   
       5 . The method of claim one, wherein the subject strengthening element ( 1 ) is a polypropylene-based material.  
   
   
       6 . The method of claim two, wherein the subject strengthening element ( 1 ) is a polypropylene-based material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of claim one, wherein the subject strengthening element ( 1 ) is a mixture of carbon-based material and polypropylene-based material.  
   
   
       8 . The method of claim two, wherein the subject strengthening element ( 1 ) is a mixture of carbon-based material and polypropylene-based material.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising a step wherein stiff fibers are added into the mortar ( 2 ) in order to enhance its tensile and shear strengths.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step wherein stiff fibers are added into the mortar ( 2 ) in order to enhance its tensile and shear strengths.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the stiff fibers are goat hairs.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stiff fibers are goat hairs.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , where the stiff fibers are polypropylene-based.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , where the stiff fibers are polypropylene-based.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 17 , fuirther comprising a step wherein expanded clay is added into the mortar ( 2 ) to enhance its ductility.