Experimental validation of seismic retrofit solutions for URM chimneys

Clay-brick unreinforced masonry (URM) chimneys are a common architectural feature of vintage domestic and commercial URM and timber-framed buildings widely encountered worldwide. URM chimneys include a cantilevered appendage above the roofline that during earthquakes-induced shaking is susceptible to significant damage and collapse, which can result in fatalities, injuries, and property damage. To mitigate this risk, many vintage URM chimneys are removed, braced, or eventually replaced with modern alternatives. The earthquake performance of 15,400 URM chimneys damaged during the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence was investigated using a photographic database and insurance claims data. The widespread damage and failure of a large proportion of retrofitted chimneys was the impetus for an experimental shake-table testing campaign that was undertaken to assess the performance of five prototypical URM chimneys in their as-built and retrofitted conditions. Cost-effective retrofit techniques with low aesthetic impact, including the use of near surface mounted carbon-fibre reinforced polymer strips and post-tensioning, were investigated. Tested chimneys were constructed to replicate the most commonly encountered geometric characteristics and construction details collected during an in-field pilot survey of 351 undamaged vintage URM chimneys.