ABSTRACT
Application of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites have for strengthening of existing structures or for production of new thin structural elements has attracted a growing recent attention. TRMs are made of continuous fibres (in the form of fabric or mesh) embedded in an inorganic matrix forming a composite material. The large variety of available fabric (glass, steel, basalt, PBO, etc.) and mortar types (cement-based, lime-based, etc.) leads to a wide range of mechanical properties making these composites suitable for fit-for-purpose design applications. Due to mechanical and hygrothermal compatibility issues, lime-based TRMs are the preferred choice for application to existing masonry and historical structures. Meanwhile, cement-based TRMs are usually employed for application to existing concrete or new masonry structures. The main characteristic behaviour of these composites is the tension stiffening response and distributed cracking under tensile loads which are highly influenced by the fabric-to-mortar bond behaviour. Fundamental understanding of this mechanism (the fabric-to-mortar bond behaviour) and parameters affecting that are therefore of critical importance of designing TRM composites with desired properties. This paper presents and overview of the recent studies we performed during the lat years for better udnertanding this mechanism.
