PSI - Issue 78

Francesca Mattei et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 2169–2175

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Fig. 4. (a) Experimental results of first test; (b) numerical preliminary results.

Fig. 4 shows the horizontal load–displacement response for the different tested configurations. The grey curves correspond to the RC wall system, while the red curves refer to the coupled system. The coupled systems exhibit higher strength and stiffness compared to the retrofit panel alone. Fig. 4b compares the pushover analysis results for the coupled system (dashed black line) with the retrofit panel (solid blue line). As visible, the model reproduces the experimental peak base shear with good accuracy, although the test specimen reached almost twice the displacement capacity predicted by the simulation and load peak. This difference suggests that the actual system benefits from additional deformation capacity not fully captured by the one-dimensional modelling approach, possibly due to local mechanisms or material nonlinearities. 3. Conclusion In the present paper, preliminary results of the first test conducted on the proposed combined seismic and energy retrofit for masonry structures are reported and commented. According to the results, the coupled systems exhibit higher strength and stiffness compared to the retrofit panel alone, while numerical model (already developed by some of the authors in the previous phases) reproduces the experimental peak base shear with good accuracy, although the test specimen reached almost twice the displacement capacity predicted by the simulation and load peak. Among future developments, from a numerical point of view, a better calibration of the numerical model to fully capture the deformation capacity noted in the experimental results is expected, while at experimental level, monotonic and cyclic experimental tests on the other specimens to fully characterised the mechanical behaviour of the coupled system will be carried out in the next months. Acknoledgements The present work was developed in the framework of a research grant collaboration funded by PAVER Costruzioni S.p.A.. All the authors would like to thank engineers and technicians of by PAVER Costruzioni S.p.A. for the collaboration in realizing the specimens adopted for the tests. References Bournas, D.A., 2018. Concurrent seismic and energy retrofitting of RC and masonry building envelopes using inorganic textile-based composites combined with insulation materials: A new concept. Composites Part B: Engineering, 148, pp.166-179. Yang, Y., Yan, X. and Chen, Z., 2025. Construction Methods and In Situ Experimental Studies of an Innovative Hybrid Structure: Single-Story Lightweight Steel Frame Steel-Timber-Bamboo Grid Shear Wall. Journal of Structural Engineering, 151(8), p.04025110. Caprili, S., Chellini, G., Mattei, F., Salvatore, W., Simonetti, G. and Badalassi, M., 2024. Lightly reinforced concrete walls in formwork blocks for the combined seismic and energy retrofit of masonry structures. Engineering Structures, 303, p.117573.