An Experimental Study on Wet/Dry Effects on FRCM Reinforced Masonry

Masonry reinforcement through fibers has been widely tested and used in structural rehabilitation. Along with the structural enhancement produced by this reinforcement, problems have surfaced which include delamination and durability aspects. In this article, the “reticolatus” reinforcement, proposed and experimentally validated and numerically studied by the authors, is used on masonry panels. The technique consists in the insertion in mortar joints of a mesh of Ultra High Tensile Strength Steel wires; the joints are then repointed with new mortar, therefore hiding the reinforcement. The advantages of this technique include the conservation of the characteristic masonry façades, a sometimes essential requirement in historical structures, and the exclusion of the problem of delamination. In the present experimental campaign, this technique is put into place on masonry panels and repointed by an inorganic mortar. The panels are subjected to wet/dry cycles and tested. Steel reinforced prisms of the inorganic mortar used for repointing were also tested and subjected to the same conditioning for a more specific individuation of the problematic areas caused by environmental stress. The results are then discussed in the paper.