0000000000406063
AUTHOR
Minafo' G.
A Numerical Study to Predict the Mechanical Response of FRCM Composites
Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) materials are increasingly common for strengthening existing masonry structures. Their popularity is due to their many advantages with respect to resin-based composites, especially when applied to stone supports. The constitutive behaviour of FRCM materials is defined by the combination of their tensile response and the bond behaviour with the masonry support, both depending on complex stress transfer mechanisms between matrix and fabric, especially in the post-cracking stage. This paper presents a numerical study which aims to predict the mechanical behaviour of FRCM systems through simple 2D models of truss elements and non-linear springs to si…
Experimental investigation on tensile and shear bond behaviour of Basalt-FRCM composites for strengthening calcarenite masonry elements
The use of Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites for structural retrofit has seen an increased interest among the scientific community, during the last decade. Various studies have revealed their effectiveness as external retrofitting technique of masonry elements, offering numerous advantages respect to the well know Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in terms of compatibility with masonry support, reversibility of intervention and sustainability. Despite the growing use, the characterization of FRCM mechanical behaviour is still an open issue, due to numerous uncertainties involved in test set-up adopted and fibre-mortar combination. The proposed experimental study aims to i…
On the use of digital image correlation (DIC) for evaluating the tensile behaviour of BFRCM strips
Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites are becoming largely adopted for retrofitting masonry structures. These materials offer several advantages in comparison to Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites, such as good resistance to fire and high temperatures, vapour permeability, possibility to be applied on wet surfaces, higher compatibility with the masonry substrate. However, the tensile behavior of FRCM materials is more complex compared to FRP composites, due to the limited tensile strength of the cement-based matrix. For this reason, FRCM materials require appropriate tensile characterization and, in this context, the use of non-conventional measurement systems, such …
Modelling of FRP and FRCM-Confined Masonry Columns: Critical Review for Design and Intervention Strategies
This paper presents a critical review of the most established analytical models for the prediction of the compressive strength of FRP and FRCM-confined masonry columns. In particular, two types of fibres are analysed, i.e. glass and basalt. A wide dataset available in the literature is used for the application of the analytical models and for the development of parametric analyses useful for the critical comparison of FRP vs. FRCM confinement technique and glass vs. basalt fibres to be adopted as reinforcement of masonry substrate. The effects of stiffness and strength of the reinforcement, the number of reinforcing layers, the compressive strength of masonry and the cross-section shape are…
Numerical modelling of bond behaviour in Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix strengthened reinforced concrete members
Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites are widely seen as offering advantages in structural retrofitting of existing buildings. In spite of their reputed effectiveness, FRCM systems typically suffers from several drawbacks related to the mechanical characterization due to complex stress transfer mechanicisms that can develop at fiber-matrix and FRCM-substrate interface. Numerous experimental studies focus on this topic, but few numerical studies are addressed to better understand the variables involved in the problem. This paper aims to propose a simple 1D numerical model to predict the shear bond behaviour of FRCM applied on concrete substrate, providing support to deduce …
A new large scale laboratory: The LEDA research centre (Laboratory of Earthquake engineering and Dynamic Analysis)
Recently, the field of earthquake engineering experienced substantial enhancements due to numerous results of experimental and theoretical researches. Modern technical codes recognized the last advances in this field and provided new solutions for the structural assessment and design of buildings. However, the need for large scale testing is still taking several open questions, especially for the design of civil infrastructures, and experimental activity on full scale specimens has become necessary. This paper presents the main testing facilities of a new research centre, namely the Laboratory of Earthquake engineering and Dynamic Analysis (LEDA) of the University of Enna “Kore”. In particu…