Confinement of full-scale masonry columns with FRCM systems

The effectiveness of FRP systems as a confinement technique to strengthen masonry columns has been widely investigated in the last decades. Recently, a new technique, Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM), based on the use of fibrous nets embedded in inorganic matrix, has been developed and investigated as a strengthening solution in masonry buildings. Actually, the number of experimental tests on masonry columns confined by using FRCM systems is very limited, especially for real scale specimens. To fill such gap an experimental program aimed at investigating the behaviour of full scale columns made of limestone masonry blocks confined with different FRCM systems has been carried out. The results of four uniaxial compression tests are illustrated and discussed. The used FRCM systems are made with glass and basalt dry nets embedded in a lime-based mortar. The influence of transverse confinement by using internal reinforcement in forms of pultruded GFRP bars has been also investigated. The mechanical properties of the confined specimens resulted increased in terms of load-carrying capacity and ultimate axial strain.