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Recent post-earthquake reconnaissance missions have shown a high degree of damage to unreinforced masonry (URM) structures. Externally bonded systems based on fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and fabric-reinforced cementitious matrices (FRCMs) may be used to increase lateral capacity of existing URM walls.
In this paper, the in-plane lateral strength of tuff stone masonry walls in both as-built and strengthened conditions is investigated. Diagonal FRP strips and FRCM composite are considered as strengthening systems. Based on capacity models as well as statistics and probability distributions for material properties, geometry and models, a probabilistic analysis was carried out through Monte Carlo simulation. Shear force versus axial force strength domains corresponding to several percentile levels were derived. Simplified dimensionless equations were finally obtained via robust regression analysis as a practice-oriented tool for both design and assessment of externally-strengthened masonry walls.