Mechanical characterisation of a flax textile reinforced mortar composite system to reinforce masonry elements

This study deals with the characterisation of the relevant mechanical properties of a sustainable Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite system made with plant fibres as reinforcement. The characterisation of the TRM components, namely hydraulic-lime mortar and flax textile, is proposed. Then, the mechanical behaviour of composite as a whole is analysed from the local scale and up to the investigation of masonry walls reinforced with the Flax-TRM under consideration. The material scale test results show that the flax textile exploits its strength without experiencing significant bond issues. At the structural scale, the TRM exhibits a great potential by conferring higher bearing capacity and ductility to the reinforced structures. The study confirms that the use of plant fibres in inorganic-based composites represents a promising and valuable solution.