An Innovative Solution for the Structural Consolidation of RC Modern Cultural Heritage

This study aims to experimentally investigate the structural performance of an innovative solution, material and technique, for the structural consolidation of Reinforced Concrete (RC) modern cultural heritage, with cracking and spalling of the concrete cover and corrosion of internal steel bars. The innovative solution consists in the installation of a stainless steel fibers in the cover concrete thickness using an inorganic polymers-based matrix. The consolidation technique (IRS) includes three operations in one: corrosion inhibition (I), cover concrete repair (R), and flexural strengthening (S). Two groups of three RC beams with low concrete strength and corroded smooth round/ribbed bars, similar to many existing structures, were tested under four-point bending. One beam of each group was used as control beam and two beams were strengthened according to either traditional Externally Bonded (EB) or innovative IRS technique. The experimental results show that the use of this innovative solution for the structural consolidation leads to the improvement of the overall structural behavior. The proposed technique and materials could be used for the restoration of modern cultural heritage, with the beneficial aspects of reduction of execution time, of pollution and of the intervention costs, compared to traditional EB-Fiber Reinforced Polymer.