Research Information System
10th Turkish Conference on Earthquake Engineering, İstanbul, Turkey, 8 - 10 October 2025, pp.1-9, (Full Text)
Partition walls exhibit brittle behavior under dynamic loading, which limits theirdeformation capacity in the direction of the applied force. This study proposes a strengtheningmethod that enhances ductility, increases lateral load-bearing capacity, and mitigates structuralsafety concerns due to wall damage, especially in small-scale earthquakes. The method isdesigned to be easy to implement, cost-effective, and applicable without disrupting thefunctionality of existing structures. In this context, the seismic performance of partition wallsstrengthened with Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) systems was experimentallyinvestigated, considering both adjacent and detached building configurations. Three full-scale(1:1) wall specimens constructed with conventional brick and mortar were tested within asingle-story, single-span steel frame. One specimen was left unreinforced as a reference, whilethe other two were strengthened with FRCM on one or both faces. All specimens weresubjected to cyclic and reversed lateral loads simulating earthquake effects. The test resultswere evaluated in terms of lateral load-bearing capacity and ductility. Findings revealed thatFRCM systems significantly improved both parameters in partition walls. Moreover, double-sided applications were found to be more effective in preserving structural integrity anddelaying damage formation.