Abstract
To evaluate the seismic performance of masonry walls strengthened with a steel mesh-sprayed Engineered cementitious composite (ECC) layer, low reversed cyclic loading tests were conducted on walls strengthened with steel mesh-ECC and steel mesh-mortar overlays and compared with an unstrengthened specimen. Considering the superior mechanical properties of ECC and the importance of the wall-overlay bond, a novel strengthening method is proposed in which a steel mesh is embedded in the ECC layer and anchored to the wall through tie bars to enhance interfacial bonding and ensure composite action under lateral loading. The study focused on the shear load-bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, and failure patterns of the walls. The results indicated that the failure pattern of the unstrengthened masonry wall was shear failure, accompanied by diagonal cracks. The masonry wall strengthened by steel mesh-ECC layer underwent bending failure. Compared with the unstrengthened specimen, the peak load, ductility coefficient, and yield load of specimen strengthened with steel mesh-mortar layer increased by 25.38%, 27.81%, and 22.22%, respectively, while the peak load, ductility coefficient, and total cumulative energy dissipation of specimen strengthened with steel mesh-ECC layer improved by 60.17%, 48.34%, and 566%, respectively. The hysteresis curve of the strengthened masonry walls was more stable, the stiffness degradation curve was smoother, and the equivalent viscous damping coefficient and cumulative energy dissipation increased at each displacement level. The masonry wall strengthened with steel mesh-ECC layer exhibits enhanced seismic performance. This research provides a technical reference for the steel mesh-ECC strengthening in masonry walls.