ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the influence of several brick mechanical and microstructural parameters, as well as other representative parameters of resin/brick substrate interaction, on bond strength. Alongside the nature and characteristics of fibers and matrix, mechanical properties of bricks are generally recognized as the most important parameters affecting the fiber reinforced polymers (FRP)/masonry strength of adhesion. The performance of the FRP reinforcement depends mainly on mechanical properties of FRP components, but if a good adhesion between the FRP and the substrate is not guaranteed, the reinforcement become useless. Brick mechanical characterization Bricks mechanical properties were analyzed in terms of compressive, tensile and flexural strength along the two directions orthogonal to the bed and the face surfaces, to assess any possible anisotropy in bricks properties. The microstructure and surface characterization, like the mechanical one, was relative to the bed and the face surfaces, to point out any influence of possible brick anisotropy on the bond strength.
