ABSTRACT
Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrices (FRCM), have recently emerged as innovative materials for the retrofit of existing unreinforced masonry structures. The variability of their constituent materials results in a wide range of mechanical properties of these composite materials, and consequently can affect the structural performance of the retrofitted masonry. The Italian Ministry of Public Works guidelines specify standard tensile, bond and durability tests to evaluate a number of mechanical properties for the qualification and acceptance of FRCM materials. Within this context, an experimental testing program was performed at University of Pavia on FRCM composites incorporating polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) meshes and fibre-reinforced hydraulic-lime mortar with pozzolan, to investigate their tensile behaviour as well as the one of the PBO textile. The stability of the mechanical properties with respect to degradation, induced by environmental actions, was evaluated by means of durability tests performed on conditioned samples. A series of single-lap tests allowed determining the bond properties between FRCM and two different masonry supports.
