ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of externally bonded strengthening systems depends on the reinforcement-to- substrate load transfer capacity. The strengthening system under investigation comprises a unidirectional textile made of Ultra High Tensile Strength Steel wires twisted to form cords. Brick masonry vaults are largely widespread in existing buildings of several Countries worldwide. Field tests were carried out to investigate the bond behaviour of Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) systems, making use of Ultra High Tensile Strength Steel cords embedded into a lime based mortar, bonded to the extrados of masonry vaults. Test outcomes provided the maximum attainable load at which SRG-to-substrate debonding occurs. Testing setup was designed to simulate the loading conditions that the reinforcement would experience if a crack develops at the extrados of the vault, due to the activation of a mechanism, in order to investigate the reaction that SRG is able to provide up to debonding.
