1.

1
Example of determination of the traction within a steel
retrofit tendon for a masonry wall
In this paragraph an example of calculation of the force within a retrofit tendon for a masonry wall
will be shown. The tendon is meant to prevent the out-of-plane overturning of a masonry wall of a
two story masonry building, shown in Figure 1. In order to perform calculations earthquakes
referring to the following zones will be took into consideration:

Locatio

Class of use

Type of soil

n
Ferrara
Rimini
Aquila

III
III
III

D
C
C

Table 1 Sesmic zones, class of use, type of soil.

Figure 1 Masonry building considered in the example.

1. Calculation of the tendon

Load analysis

Roof:
Permanent load:
Variable load:

qp2 = 87 daN/m2
qac2 = 100 daN/ m2

Floor:
Permanent load:
Variable load:

qp1 = 161 daN/m2

qac1 = 200 daN/m2

A specific weight for the masonry of = 2000 daN/m3 will be assumed.

In Figure 2 the static scheme of the forces acting on the wall is reported.
The geometrical specifications of the wall are as follows:

b1= 0.55 m
b2 = 0.40 m
d1 = 0.45 m
d2 = 0.30 m
h1 = 3.30 m
h2 = 3.30 m

A constant stress distribution on the overturning section will be

assumed. The stress will be equal to the crushing stress of the masonry,
i.e. k = 20 daN/cm2.

The length of the stress block is given by the equilibrium equation:

c
Figure 2 Calculation
scheme

N
k .s

Lets consider the overturning mechanism at the first floor. For the sake of safety, only permament
loads will be considered within the calculation of S1 and S2. The load interaxes for the first floor
and the second floor are respectively:

i1 = 2.23 m
i2 = 1.62 m

Calculation of stabilizing forces.

Lets consider a portion of wall with a length of 1 m, S1 and S2 are:
S1 = qp1 i1 1 = 359 daN
S2 = qp2 i2 1 = 141 daN
Thus the length of the stress block is:
c2 =

S2
s k .s

= 0.014m

The proper weights of the two walls are:

P1 = 2000 3.3 0.55 1 = 3630 daN
P2 = 2000 3.3 0.40 1 = 2640 daN
Calculation of the unstabilizing forces.
Lets now calculate the seismic acceleration associated to the location of Ferrara. A nominal life Vn
= 50 years will be assumed. If the class of use is III, Cu will be equal to 1.5. Thus it follows that Vr
= 50 1.5 =75 anni.

The probability of exceeding the intensity of the design earthquake in the reference period Vr
related to the life limit state is equal to PVR=10%, with a return period of:

TR

VR
ln( 1 PVR )
= 712 years

To which correspond the following values of the spectral parameters ag, F0, Tc* and the following
elastic spectra:

Ferrara (soil D)

Rimini (soil

Aquila (soil

C)

C)

ag/g

0.162

0.212

0.3

F0

2.567

2.507

2.384

Tc*

0.276

0.304

0.356

Ss

1.776219

1.3811096

1.27088

Cc

2.379334336

1.555396139

1.476422992

St

1.776219

1.3811096

1.27088

Figure 3 Elastic spectra

The Ss and Cc parameters are chosen following NTC 2008 prescription:

The parameter S, is calculated as S = SS ST. In the paragraph 7.8.1.5.2 of NTC2008 prescribes the
following equivalent static forces:

Fa

Sa
.Wa w .Wa
qa

where:
Wa = weight of the element.
qa = 3

a .S 3(1 + Z / H )

Sa = g .
0.5

2
g

1 + (1- Ta / T1)

Z = centroid quota of the non structural element measured from the foundation.
H = height of the building measured from the foundation.
Ta = 0
In the following table the values of Sa and w for the two walls in each reference location are
shown:

Sa1
Sa2
w1
w2

Ferrara
0.396
0.611
0.132
0.204

Rimini
0.403
0.622
0.134
0.207

The masses excited by the earthquake, are given by the formula:

G1 G2 2 j Qkj
Where the values of 2j are defined by NTC2008:

Aquila
0.524
0.810
0.175
0.270

Thus, for the first floor it is 2j = 0.3 (category A) whilst for the roof it is 2j = 0. Masses referred
to first floor and roof floor are respectively W1= 493 daN e W2= 141 daN.
Static force to be applied to each mass is given by:
Fi Fh .z i .Wi / z jW j
j

Coefficients i to be applied to each force are:

0,52702
p1

9
1,05405

w1

7
1,58108

p2

6
2,10811

w2

Thus, corresponding forces are equal to:

1913,1
Fp1

14

Fw1

519,47

11
4174,0
Fp2

67
297,11

Fw2

77

2. Overturning assessment

Overturning around point B:

The tractions T1 and T2 for the Ferrara location are being calculated. Stabilizing moment is given by:
c
c

b
M stab S 2 d 2 2 P2 2 2 T2 .h2
2
2

2
Mstab = 141 0.29 + 2640 0.19 + T2 3.3 =542.5 + T2 3.3
Overturning moment is given by:
h

M rib w 2 Fw 2 .h2 F p 2 . 2
2

Mrib = w2 (297,11.3,3 + 4174,1.1,65) = w2 7868

Thus:
T2 = w2 2384.2 164.4
Keeping in mind that w2 = 0.204, it follows that:
T2 = 319 daN
Overturning around point A:
c
c
c

b c
M stab S 2 d 2 1 P2 2 1 S1 d1 1 P1 1 1 T2 (h1 h2 ) T1 h1
2
2

2 2

2 2
Mstab = 141 0.283 + 2640 0.183 + 359 0.433 + 3630 0.258 + T2.(h1 + h2) + T1.h1 = 1615 + T2.(h1

M rib

+ +h2) + T1.h1
h
h1

Fw 2 ( h1 h2 ) F p 2 h1 2 Fw1 h1 F p1
2
2

Mrib = (297 6.6 + 4174 4.95 + 519.5 3.3 + 1913 1.65) = 27492.3
Being the required multiplier = 0.204 and from the equality between stabilizing and overturning
moment, one gets T1:

T1 = 8331 1131.4 = 571 daN

Assuming a steel resistance of f = 2400 daN/cm2 the section of the tendon for unit length of the
wall is::
A1 = T1/ f = 568/2400 = 0.238 cm2/m
A2 = T2/ f = 319/2400 = 0.133 cm2/m
Heres reported the values of the tractions in the tendons for the three locations.

T1 [daN/m]
T2 [daN/m]
Atir1
[cm2/m]
Atir2

Ferrara
571
319
0.238

Rimini
600
328
0.250

LAquila
1122
477
0.468

0.133

0.136

0.199

[cm2/m]

1.2 Example of calculation of a CFRP reinforcement within a ringing retrofit

intervention for masonry buildings

Figure 4 Example of the use of CFRP in the retrofit of masonry buildings

Lets assume that the wall at risk of overturning has a length of

l =6

m and keeping in mind the

values of the tractions within the tendons calculated in the previous paragraph:

T1 [daN/m]
T2 [daN/m]

Ferrara
571
319

Rimini
600
328

LAquila
1122
477

F = T i l / 2
The force that the CFRP reinforcement is given by

, thus the forces acting on the

reinforcements in the three location are:

Ferrara
1712
957

T1 [daN]
T2 [daN]

Rimini
1801
983

LAquila
3367
1431

The reinforcement for the ground floor wall in Rimini and lAquila is being calculated. The FRP
properties will be assumed as follows:

Carbon Fiber

Young Modulus E

Traction Resistance t

[daN/cm2]
230 x 104

[daN/cm2]
451 x 102

The reinforcement will be designed in both cases of good and low quality masonry.

fbk = 40
In the first case, a masonry characteristic compression resistance of

MPa will be assumed,

fk =

mk

= 14.3

with mortar of class M15 i.e. with a characteristic compression resistance of

MPa.

fbd = 7.15
Introducing the suitable safety factors the design compression resistance will thus be
MPa and the average traction resistance will be assumed like 1/10 of the compression resistance:

fmtm = 1.43
MPa.

fbk = 5
In the second case, a masonry characteristic compression resistance of

MPa will be

assumed, with mortar of class M15 i.e. with a characteristic compression resistance of

fk =

mk

= 3.5
MPa. Introducing the suitable safety factors the design compression resistance will

fbd = 1.75
thus be
MPa and the average traction resistance will be assumed like 1/10 of the

fmtm = 0.35
compression resistance:

MPa.

The reinforcement will be designed both considering the masonry resistance and the brick
resistance. A one-directional carbon fiber strip of Type C will be used, thus its equivalent thickness
will be (cfr. point 2.3.2 DT 200/2004):

I eq =

Art
1000

= 0.169mm

Art = 168.9mm2 / m
where

le
(textile C). The optimal anchoring length

, needed for granting the

ffdd
value of traction design resistance

given by the ratio between the maximum transmissible force

Fmax,d
and the area of the transverse section of the reinforcement, is given by the following formula:

le =

E ft
2fmtm

bf
The height of the reinforcement strip

is obtained by the formula defining the maximum force

transmissible by the reinforcement:

Fmax,d =

where:

km
grd

bf 2E tfG d

Gfd = sfl c kb fmk mtm / 2gm

sf = 0.2

sf
-

is the interface sliding, between 0.1-0.3 mm. Lets assume

cl = 0.06

mm.

from experimental tests.

kb
-

is a geometric factor, assumed 1.

grd
-

is a partial coefficient in case of applications of type B.

bf

The height of the reinforcement

average failure load

may also be obtained through the following formula giving the

P = t bf le

where

may be assumed equal to the traction resistance of masonry. A further formula for the
bf

evaluation of

is the following:

Fmax = bf 2E tf G

Gfl = c fmk mtm

where

bf
. In the following tables the value of

for three different values of

acting force 1000, 2000 e 3500 daN using respectively the three formulas presented:

F [daN]
1000
2000
3500

GOOD QUALITY MASONRY

b1 [mm]
b2 [mm]
b3 [mm]
554
60
69
1109
120
138
1940
210
241

GOOD QUALITY BRICK

b1 [mm]
b2 [mm]
b3 [mm]
331
36
41
663
72
82
1160
126
144

F [daN]
1000
2000
3500

LOW QUALITY MASONRY

b1 [mm]
b2 [mm]
b3 [mm]
1120
121
139
2241
242
278
3921
424
487

LOW QUALITY BRICK

b1 [mm]
b2 [mm]
b3 [mm]
937
101
116
1875
203
233
3281
355
408