Prove di compressione diagonale su muretti di tufo rinforzati con CFRCM

Composite materials are getting more and more common as a strengthening technique of existing members and structures; fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP) are widely used, while carbon-fiber reinforced cement matrix (CFRCM) materials have been proposed especially in interventions on masonry elements. In the present paper, the results of an experimental campaign carried out on tuff masonry walls strengthened in shear by a special kind CFRCM material are reported and commented. The key finding about the observed experimental behaviour deals with the fact that due to the very poor mechanical properties of the masonry walls, failure usually occurs prematurely, being controlled by the low adhesion between the composite strengthening and the masonry face. Finally, simplified analytical formulation calibrated upon the experimental results are also proposed for determining the expected shear strength increase on tuff masonry strengthened by the considered CFRCM system.