Efectiveness of anchors for structural retrofitting with composite materials of polymeric and cementitious matrices

Abstract

Structural retrofitting of RC and masonry members with composite materials has achieved great popularity in recent years. Among these systems, a distinction can be made between composite materials with polymeric (FRP) and cementitious (FRCM) matrices; the former are more broadly employed, although the latter are generally acknowledged in the field of historic constructions, especially in brick masonry. Premature debonding has been pointed out as a critical failure mode in FRP systems, leading to the development of a range of anchorage techniques to delay or prevent debonding. FRCM, suffers from a different problem, which is its weak interaction fibres-matrix; for that reason, anchorage techniques originally conceived for FRP have been investigated with the aim of enhancing the performance of fibres-mortar interface in FRCM reinforcements. This paper collects main research papers for FRP and FRCM systems, and discusses the role of anchors depending on the matrix of the reinforcement.