Durability of PBO-FRCM systems: effects of wet and dry cycles and immersion in “ocean water”

The increasing use of FRCM systems for strengthening of RC structures has led to the need of investigating their mechanical properties in terms of durability. The study presented herein concerns results of an experimental campaign conducted on specimens consisting of a layer of PBO immersed in cement mortar, subjected to different ageing strategies defined according to regulatory standards and scientific literature. In particular, tested specimens were subjected to two different types of ageing: wet and dry cycles and immersion in saline solution, based on ASTM D1141-98 standards. Obtained results showed the influence exerted by the adopted ageing modalities on mechanical response of tested specimens in terms of stiffness and peak strength.