FRCM Reinforcement Systems in Historical Masonries of Savuto Castle, Italy

Abstract

The analysis to consolidate the historical masonry through reinforcement systems is presented. Savuto Castle, located in Cleto (in the south of Italy), of the thirteenth century, was chosen as a case study due to its architectural and historical value. Structural interventions carried out through this study consisted of applying reinforcement systems on the extrados of two historical barrel vaults in order to contrast tensile stresses on the two wall structures. Applied reinforcing materials were chosen in agreement with the building materials of the masonry support thanks to a petrographic, chemical, mineralogical, and mechanical characterization performed on the historical mortar and building elements. In particular, petrographic analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) microanalysis, and double flat-jack tests were carried out. Thanks to the obtained results, a fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) system composed by ultrahigh tensile strength steel (UHTSS) fabrics and a reinforcing mortar reproducing the characteristics of the historical binder were chosen, guaranteeing the optimal interaction with the support as well as a high mechanical resistance. Through a nonlinear analysis performed on the finite-element method (FEM) model of the reinforced wall system, the structural effectiveness of the adopted reinforcement system was also checked.