Effectiveness of the Steel FRCM Composites in Confining Stone Masonry Columns
摘要
The conservation and preservation of existing masonry buildings, many of which are recognized as cultural heritage, need strengthening techniques that minimize invasiveness, ensure intervention reversibility, and maintain substrate compatibility. In this context, various studies have shown that Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites are an effective solution for the confinement of masonry columns. However, existing literature has predominantly focused on columns made of brick or regular stone blocks, with limited research on the mechanical behavior of columns made of irregular stone masonry confined with FRCM. This study evaluates the effectiveness of FRCM reinforcement systems applied to this specific type of masonry. The FRCM system considered in this study is made of unidirectional stainless-steel fibers embedded in a lime-based matrix. The reinforcement was applied continuously along the height of the column. Compression tests were conducted on nine columns: three unconfined and six confined with varying layers of reinforcement. The investigated configurations analyze the influence of the number of reinforcement layers (one or two layers) on load capacity, stiffness, ductility, and failure mode of the columns. The results provide insights into optimizing FRCM reinforcement strategies for irregular stone masonry columns.