Tommaso D’Antino (Politecnico di Milano)

Fiber-reinforced composites are increasingly used in civil engineering structure applications for strengthening and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete (RC) and masonry structures. They represent a sustainable alternative to new construction because they allow for an extension of the original service life, preventing the demolition of existing structures. Among them, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites gained a large popularity in the last few decades due to their high-strength-to-weight ratio and ease of application. However, the use of organic matrices in FRP is responsible for some drawbacks, such as the low resistance to (relatively) high temperatures and poor compatibility with concrete and masonry substrates. To overcome these issues, inorganic-matrix composites comprising high-strength fiber textiles embedded within a cement- or a lime-based matrix have been proposed. These composites, generally referred to as fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites, showed promising results as externally bonded reinforcement of RC and masonry members. Various experimental tests were proposed to investigate the mechanical properties of FRCM composites and of the FRCM-strengthened member and the results obtained were used as the basis for analytical and numerical design models. This seminar provides a brief overview on the most recent development in experimental, analytical, and numerical investigation of these inorganic-matrix composites.