Experimental and Numerical Study of SRG-to-Masonry Joints
摘要
Steel reinforced grout (SRG) – in which steel fiber strips are embedded in an inorganic mortar – is a promising strengthening methodology for the retrofitting of reinforced concrete (RC) or masonry structures. While its effectiveness has been established in various applications, delamination (debonding) at the fiber-mortar or mortar-substrate interfaces may dramatically affect its mechanical performance when a premature failure occurs. Bond tests can provide crucial insights by evaluating debonding forces versus slip relationships. The performance of SRG interventions depends on factors including the fiber and mortar types, reinforcement layers, bonded length, substrate properties, and environmental conditions. To address the current lack of knowledge regarding these criteria, this paper presents experimental and numerical studies of SRG-to-masonry bonds. Specifically, Finite Element (FE) analysis is used to model typical SRG-to-masonry joints, leveraging results from a previous campaign of laboratory tests. The results showed satisfactory accuracy of the experimental/numerical comparison, in terms of constitutive bond laws.