Experimental, analytical, and numerical investigation on bond behaviour of basalt TRM systems

In this study, a composite system designed for the reinforcement of masonry structures is investigated. The constituents of the composite system are a basalt-fibre mesh and a lime-based mortar matrix. The mesh shows two spacing layouts; the tighter layout provides double with the reinforcement ratio. Hence, three solutions were tested, one considers the wider spacing and a single layer of the mesh; a second system considers two layers of the wider mesh, thus, providing the same reinforcement ratio of the tighter layout. The third system is made with one layer of tighter mesh. The experimental campaign addressed single-shear tests on bricks. Also, within a fracture process zone approach, bond behaviour of the composite system, assuming a trilinear cohesive material law, is modelled in closed form, solving the system of differential equations. Further, a numerical finite-difference based solution is set up and compared to the analytical one.