Mortar-based systems for externally bonded strengthening of masonry

Mortar-based composite materials appear particularly promising for use as externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) systems for masonry structures. Nevertheless, their mechanical performance, which may significantly differ from that of Fibre Reinforced Polymers, is still far from being fully investigated. Furthermore, standardized and reliable testing procedures have not been defined yet. The present paper provides an insight on experimental-related issues arising from campaigns on mortar-based EBRs carried out by laboratories in Italy, Portugal and Spain. The performance of three reinforcement systems made out of steel, carbon and basalt textiles embedded in inorganic matrices has been investigated by means of uniaxial tensile coupon testing and bond tests on brick and stone substrates. The experimental results contribute to the existing knowledge regarding the structural behaviour of mortar-based EBRs against tension and shear bond stress, and to the development of reliable test procedures aiming at their homogenization/standardization

Residual TRM-to-Concrete Bond after Freeze–Thaw Cycles

In the present work, the effect of various freeze–thaw cycles (namely, 0, 10, 30, 50, 60, and 70) on the residual bond characteristics of textile reinforced mortar (TRM)-to-concrete was experimentally examined. The TRM consisted of a carbon dry fiber textile embedded in a cement-based matrix. Two mortar types were used as the matrix: a normal-weight and a lightweight one sharing the same hydraulic powders but different aggregates (limestone and pumice sand, respectively). The single-lap/single-prism set up was applied after the specimens underwent hygro-thermal treatment (according to ASTM C 666-Procedure B). Failure was due to the sleeve fibers rupturing the load aligned yarns or textile slippage from the mortar for an exposure period ranging between 0 and 60 cycles and to TRM debonding from the substrate for 70 cycles. Increasing cycles resulted in the intensification of partial interlaminar debonding phenomena and the weakening of the textile-to-matrix bond, with lightweight mortar being more prone to these effects. In the absence of a commonly accepted standardized method for the assessment of the freeze–thaw resistance of cement-based composites, the criterion for the termination of the freeze–thaw sequence was the number of cycles inferring a shift in failure mode (from fiber rupture/fiber slippage to TRM debonding from the substrate)

Experimental Investigation of the TRM-to-Masonry Bond after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures: Cementitious and Alkali-Activated Matrices of Various Densities

Limited research has focused on the effect of high temperatures on the textile-reinforced mortar (TRM)-to-masonry bond. In this study, masonry prisms that were furnished with double-layered TRM strips were tested under shear bond conditions after their exposure to 200 °C and 400 °C for 1 h using the single-lap/single-prism setup. A total of four TRM systems were applied sharing the same type of textile –a dry AR glass fiber one– and different matrices: two cementitious matrices, namely a normal-weight (TRCNM) and a lightweight (TRCLM) one, and two counterpart alkali-activated matrices (TRAANM and TRAALM) based on metakaolin and fly ash. Specimens’ exposure to elevated temperatures did not alter their failure mode which was due to the sleeve fibers’ rupture along with core fibers’ slippage from the mortar. The residual bond capacity of the TRM systems decreases almost linearly with increasing exposure temperature. The alkali-activated textile reinforced mortars outperformed their cement-based counterparts in terms of bond strength at every temperature. All systems retained close to 50% of their original shear bond strength after heating at 400 °C. Per the type of binder, lightweight matrices resulted in either comparable (cement-based systems) or better (alkali-activated systems) heat protection at the TRM/masonry interface

Retrofit of Seismically Deficient RC Columns with Textile- Reinforced Mortar (TRM) Jackets

The effectiveness of a new structural material, namely textilereinforced mortar (TRM), was investigated experimentally in this study as a means of confining old-type reinforced concrete columns with limited capacity due to bar buckling or due to bond failure at lap splice regions. Comparisons with equal stiffness and strength fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of TRM versus FRP. Tests were carried out on full scale non-seismically detailed RC columns subjected to cyclic uniaxial flexure under constant axial load. Thirteen cantilever-type specimens with either continuous longitudinal reinforcement (smooth or deformed) or lap splicing of longitudinal bars at the floor level were constructed and tested. Experimental results indicated that TRM jacketing is quite effective as a means of increasing the cyclic deformation capacity of old-type RC columns with poor detailing, by delaying bar buckling and by preventing splitting bond failures in columns with lap spliced bars. Compared with their FRP counterparts, TRM jackets used in this study were found to be equally effective in terms of increasing both the strength and deformation capacity of the retrofitted columns. From the response of specimens tested in this study, it can be concluded that TRM jacketing is an extremely promising solution for the confinement of reinforced concrete columns, including poorly detailed ones with or without lap splices in seismic regions

Retrofit of Seismically Deficient RC Columns with Textile- Reinforced Mortar (TRM) Jackets

The effectiveness of a new structural material, namely textilereinforced mortar (TRM), was investigated experimentally in this study as a means of confining old-type reinforced concrete columns with limited capacity due to bar buckling or due to bond failure at lap splice regions. Comparisons with equal stiffness and strength fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of TRM versus FRP. Tests were carried out on full scale non-seismically detailed RC columns subjected to cyclic uniaxial flexure under constant axial load. Thirteen cantilever-type specimens with either continuous longitudinal reinforcement (smooth or deformed) or lap splicing of longitudinal bars at the floor level were constructed and tested. Experimental results indicated that TRM jacketing is quite effective as a means of increasing the cyclic deformation capacity of old-type RC columns with poor detailing, by delaying bar buckling and by preventing splitting bond failures in columns with lap spliced bars. Compared with their FRP counterparts, TRM jackets used in this study were found to be equally effective in terms of increasing both the strength and deformation capacity of the retrofitted columns. From the response of specimens tested in this study, it can be concluded that TRM jacketing is an extremely promising solution for the confinement of reinforced concrete columns, including poorly detailed ones with or without lap splices in seismic regions

The Effect of Elevated Temperatures on the TRM-to-Masonry Bond: Comparison of Normal Weight and Lightweight Matrices

Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) is a composite material that has already been successfully used as an externally bonded strengthening means of existing structures. The bond of TRM with various substrates is of crucial importance for determining the degree of exploitation of the textile. However, little is known on the effect of elevated/high temperatures on the TRM-to-substrate bond characteristics while relevant testing protocols are also lacking. This study focuses on the experimental assessment of the TRM-to-masonry bond after exposure of masonry wallettes unilaterally furnished with TRM strips at 120 °C and 200 °C for 1 h. The shear bond tests on cooled-down specimens were carried out using the single-lap/single-prism set-up. Two TRM systems were investigated sharing the same type of textile, which is a dry AR glass fiber one (either in a single-layer or in a double-layer configuration) and different matrices: one normal weight (TRNM) and another lightweight (TRLM) of equal compressive strengths. At control conditions (non-heated specimens) and after exposure at a nominal air temperature of 120 °C, both single-layer TRM systems exhibited similar bond capacities. After exposure at a nominal air temperature of 200 °C single-layer and double-layer TRNM overlays outperformed their TRLM counterparts. A critical discussion is based on phenomenological evidence and measured response values

­­­Mechanical behavior of textile reinforced alkali-activated mortar based on fly ash, metakaolin and ladle furnace slag [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

The need for repair and maintenance has become dominant in the European construction sector. This, combined with the urge to decrease CO2 emissions, has resulted in the development of lower carbon footprint repair solutions such as textile reinforced mortars (TRM) based on alkali-activated materials (AAM). Life cycle studies indicate that AAM CO2 savings, when compared to Portland cement, range from 80% to 30%. Furthermore, in this study, recycled aggregates were considered with the aim to promote a circular economy mindset. AAM mortars formulation based on fly ash, ladle furnace slag and metakaolin were tested for compressive and flexural strength. Three out of all formulations were chosen for an analysis on the potential of these mortars to be used for TRM applications. Tensile and shear bond tests, combined with a concrete substrate, were executed as indicators of the TRM effectiveness. Scanning electron microscopy and chemical analysis based on energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to interpret the results and reveal the reasons behind the different level of performance of these composites. Results indicated that TRM based on high calcium fly ash are unsuitable for structural strengthening applications due to low bond between matrix and/or substrate and fibers. Metakaolin-based TRM showed good performance both in terms of tensile strength and bond capacity, which suggests potential as a repair mortar