Confinement effectiveness in eccentrically loaded masonry columns strengthened by Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) jackets

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the effectiveness of the Carbon Fiber ReinforcedCementitious Matrix (C-FRCM) as confinement system of the masonry and the characterization ofthe structural response of masonry column confined by C-FRCM jackets, accounting for allgeometrical and mechanical involved parameters. At this aim, tests on confined masonry columnunder eccentric axial load were carried out. Five masonry column having an overall length of 650mm, with rectangular cross-section, 250 x 250 mm, were eccentrically loaded until collapse; twospecimens were un-confined and used as control specimens, two specimens were confined with onelayer of C-FRCM and one specimen was confined with two layers of C-FRCM. The eccentricityvalues considered were e/H=0 and e/H=0.20, being H the height of the section. Failure modes andload-strain diagrams were considered to analyze test results and to evaluate the effectiveness of theconfinement both in terms of strength and ductility.