Flexural Performance of Compressed Stabilized Earth Block Masonry Walls Using Bamboo Splints and Steel Bars

This paper presents the out-of-plane behavior of hollow interlocking compressed stabilized earth block (ICSEB) masonry walls reinforced and retrofitted with bamboo splints and steel bars with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of reinforcement and retrofitting techniques in enhancing the performance of walls. Thirty walls were constructed with 10 different configurations: (1) unreinforced masonry walls; (2) unreinforced masonry walls incorporating channel blocks; (3) vertical bamboo or steel reinforced and retrofitted masonry walls; (4) vertical bamboo or steel reinforced and bamboo or steel mesh retrofitted masonry walls; (5) bamboo or steel mesh reinforced and vertical bamboo or steel retrofitted masonry walls incorporating channel blocks; and (6) bamboo or steel mesh reinforced and retrofitted masonry walls incorporating channel blocks. The reinforcements were inserted into the block holes and filled with cement–sand–soil grout. Galvanized iron wire with a diameter of 2 mm was used to secure retrofitting on both faces of the wall. A uniform precompression load was applied and maintained on all samples tested while a lateral load parallel to the bed joints was increased progressively until failure occurred. Cracking patterns, failure modes, load–deformation response, and flexural strength of the walls were examined throughout the study. Mesh-type retrofitting with steel bars produced better structural performance, particularly in terms of deformability and load-carrying capacity. All tested wall samples satisfied the minimum flexural strength criterion of 0.1 MPa. The toughness amplification factor and energy absorption capacity ranged from 1.00 to 22.85 and from 103.40 to 2,362.84 kN-mm, respectively. Samples retrofitted with steel mesh demonstrated a higher toughness amplification factor and energy absorption capacity than other sample types. The ultimate moment and lateral load capacity of reinforced and retrofitted walls was compared and validated using a statistical prediction model and found to be in good agreement.