Abstract:In order to improve the stress lag problem when using orthogonal steel strips to strength brick masonry wall, applying pre-tension stress in horizontal steel strips was proposed in this paper. Five specimens were test under low reversed cyclic loading. The failure process of the specimen was described, and hysteretic curve, skeleton curve, bearing capacity, stiffness and ductility were also analyzed. The results showed that strengthening brick masonry wall by pre-stressed steel strips could improve its seismic performance; increasing the steel strips’ pre-stress level within appropriate range could further improve the bearing capacity of the specimen, and had little effect on the lateral stiffness corresponding to its cracking point, but the ductility decreased slightly; increasing the load level of the wall could improve both the bearing capacity and lateral stiffness of the specimen, but the ductility also decreased slightly; and increasing the aspect ratio of the wall to 1, the strengthening effect was relatively worse. Furthermore, based on the analysis of the strain development of steel strips, it can be found that pre-stress can effectively improve the utilization ratio of material. Finally, the recommended value of pre-stress and calculating formula for shear capacity are proposed.