Masonry columns strengthened with Steel Reinforced Cementitious matrix (S-FRCM) jackets: experimental and numerical investigation

The structural performances of masonry columns confined with Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) is analysed, both experimentally and theoretically, in this paper. The analysis refers to clay brick masonry columns confined with a steel-FRCM strengthening system made by steel fiber sheets with an inorganic matrix. An experimental investigation on steel-FRCM confined clay brick masonry columns having an overall height of 770 mm with rectangular cross-section 250×250 mm was carried out. Columns were tested under axial and eccentric load until collapse. The test parameters considered in this study were the number of confining layers and the load eccentricity. In addition, a numerical 3D model was calibrated by both results of the experimental tests of this work and results available in the literature. A numerical model was realized by the commercial code Abaqus, based on the macro-model approach in order to simulate the non-linear structural behaviour of masonry columns. The outcome of this investigation allows to evaluate the influence of considered parameters on the effectiveness of the confinement both in terms of strength and ductility.