EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMENT ON PERFORMANCE OF GEO-GRID MESH IN SEISMIC LOADING CONDITION ON ADOBE STRUCTURES

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Adobe structures are one of the oldest and most adapted structures known to humanity. Basically, these structures are constructed without any prior engineering principles. The in-plane and out-of-plane loading failure caused by the earthquake leads to extensive damage and in some cases, the collapse of the structures. The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of geo-grid mesh as a strengthening solution when earthquake-force condition prevails on adobe structures. To attain these objectives two series of tests were performed: A material testing program and a dynamic testing program on 3 reduced-scale adobe masonry house models. A reduced scale of 1:5 was adopted for model structures. The material testing program consists of physical and mechanical tests on the adobe and the dynamic testing program is performed to study the elastic and post-elastic behaviour of adobe structures through the shake table test. The strengthening technique investigated were 1. The model with geo-grid as a wall surface strengthening and 2. The model with geo-grid as a bed-joint strengthening. A shake table test was performed on unreinforced and reinforced adobe-reduced scale models. The models were tested on a shake table with a frequency range of 0-25 Hz. After testing it on the shake table, it is concluded that the model structure with geogrid as a wall surface strengthening and bed joint strengthening shows delayed failure occurrence and more ductile behaviour which avoids the life-threatening collapse of the structure.

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