Mechanical properties of pre-stressed fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix composite (PFRCM)

Abstract

Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) is a composite strengthening material used to strengthen masonry and concrete structures in a passive way due to the requirement of crack activation. Prestressing fabric is proposed to overcome this limitation, to increase the cracking strength and to obtain a stiffer response. With this aim, over 200 tensile tests on FRCM specimens were performed to analyse the influence of prestressing fabrics. Other variables, like fixation system, testing speed, matrix material and fabric material, were also discussed. Evidences lead to conclude that prestressing fabric of FRCM is an effective way to increase its tensile cracking strength (over 30%) and tensile stiffness.