Tensile behavior of Textile Reinforced Mortars made with Flax fabrics

Nowadays, several industrial sectors are more and more motivated to develop and adopt sustainable solutions. In this context, the construction industry is not an exception: new materials, possibly obtained from renewable and locally available sources, are being worldwide developed and explored. As part of this common effort, special attention is being paid to an emerging class of materials generally referred to as bio-based composite systems. This study investigates the mechanical properties of a Textile-Reinforced Mortar (TRM) system produced with flax textiles embedded within a hydraulic lime-based mortar. The research also aims at analyzing the cracking patterns exhibited by the Natural TRM systems under investigation. The proposed analyses highlight the relevant mechanical response observed in the experimental results and allows to have a comprehensive overview of the feasibility of using natural textiles for strengthening existing structures.