Composite Systems for Structural Strengthening

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Hybrid and Composite Crystalline Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 7103

Special Issue Editors

Faculty of Engineering, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
Interests: concrete; pavement material
Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Interests: construction engineering; civil engineering; structural engineering; reinforced concrete; earthquake engineering; structural analysis; structural dynamics; concrete building; construction technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 39B, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Interests: bond; direct-shear test; fiber strain; flexural strengthening; steel–FRCM composite; temperature; analytical modeling; columns; confinement; masonry; numerical modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increasing experimental evidence is available for the use of composite materials such as fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs), textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) or fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM) and composite-reinforced mortar (CRM). Composites are suitable for retrofitting the structural and the non-structural elements in constructions fields. The advantages are largely recognised in terms of fast installation, efficiency, compatibility and reversibility. Their applications include arch, vault, dome, wall, column, beam, infill, etc.

The research in the field of new materials is of crucial interest for these reasons. The proper design of such composites depends on the knowledge in the characterization and applications, since the symbiotic behaviour of the constituents (fabric and matrices) and their interaction with the substrate are both very variable. In fact, the combinations of the type of fibre, the fabric mesh, the type of matrix (organic or inorganic), the type of substrate (masonry or concrete) and the acting force (shear, compression, bending, etc.) are huge in number, as evident from the available experimental outcomes. In this scenario, the present Special Issue on “Composite Systems for Structural Strengthening: Design, Testing and Application” may become a status report summarizing the progress achieved in the recent years, with a focus on future advances and challenges.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Characterization of inorganic-based materials;
  • Admixtures and additives;
  • Alternative and sustainable binders and geopolymers;
  • Materials design;
  • Numerical simulation for evaluating the strengthening efficiency;
  • Performance comparison of inorganic- versus organic-based composites;
  • Bond behaviour;
  • Laboratory testing.

Dr. Bahman Ghiassi
Dr. Alessio Cascardi
Dr. Marta Del Zoppo
Dr. Salvatore Verre
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs)
  • fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM)
  • textile-reinforced mortar (TRM)
  • Masonry
  • Concrete
  • Heritage

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 41221 KiB  
Article
The Effectiveness of the DIC as a Measurement System in SRG Shear Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beams
by Marco Francesco Funari and Salatore Verre
Crystals 2021, 11(3), 265; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11030265 - 08 Mar 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4124
Abstract
Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) materials are generating considerable interest as strengthening system of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. They are finding increasing use in several civil engineering applications mainly due to the advantages they offer over traditional material such as high strength to weight [...] Read more.
Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) materials are generating considerable interest as strengthening system of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. They are finding increasing use in several civil engineering applications mainly due to the advantages they offer over traditional material such as high strength to weight ratio, ease of application, durability and low price. This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation carried out on SRG shear strengthened RC beams and gives evidence of the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) effectiveness as a measurement system. The tests performed had two main objectives: (i) assess the effectiveness of continuous and discontinuous U-wrapped jackets comprising a different number of layers and strips; (ii) assess the shear crack distribution during the tests by means of the DIC measurements. The results confirmed that reinforcing RC beams with SRG jackets can increase the load-bearing capacity; when the beam was reinforced with a continuous two-layered SRG strip, an increase of 84% was observed (compared to the unreinforced beam). The Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDT) measurements validated the results obtained by means of the DIC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composite Systems for Structural Strengthening)
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16 pages, 2779 KiB  
Article
Pre-Load Effect on CFRP-Confinement of Concrete Columns: Experimental and Theoretical Study
by Francesco Micelli, Alessio Cascardi and Maria Antonietta Aiello
Crystals 2021, 11(2), 177; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11020177 - 10 Feb 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2350
Abstract
The axial compression strength of concrete columns has been proved to be significantly enhanced by external confinement. In this perspective, the use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) has been extensively studied. In practical applications, the FRP-confinement is installed on loaded columns, which can already [...] Read more.
The axial compression strength of concrete columns has been proved to be significantly enhanced by external confinement. In this perspective, the use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) has been extensively studied. In practical applications, the FRP-confinement is installed on loaded columns, which can already be significantly deformed, while theoretical models neglect this aspect. This paper concerns a new experimental investigation on the possibility that a pre-existing axial load affects the FRP-confinement of concrete. The research program also aimed at the development of a new analysis-oriented-model for the prediction of the compressive strength of FRP-jacketed concrete columns, depending on the level of the axial load, acting before the confinement. For this purpose, series of small-scale concrete cylinders were first loaded, then confined with Carbon FRP, and finally subjected to destructive pure axial compression tests. Four different levels of pre-existing loads were simulated, including the un-loaded condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composite Systems for Structural Strengthening)
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