Experimental investigation of tuff masonry panels reinforced with surface bonded basalt textile-reinforced mortar

Basalt textile-reinforced mortar (BTRM) composites have shown to be a promising technique for the reinforcement of masonry systems, but their use as in-plane shear reinforcement of wall panels is still far from being fully investigated. This paper illustrates the results of experimental tests carried out on masonry panels built using volcanic tuff stones from the Latium Region, Italy, reinforced with externally bonded BTRM composite. The experimental program involved compressive tests on the unreinforced panels and diagonal compression tests on two unreinforced specimens, three single-side reinforced specimens and two double side reinforced specimens. Structural response characteristics including crack pattern, stress-strain behavior, strength, stiffness and deformation capacity were investigated. Furthermore, the results obtained are compared with those published elsewhere regarding tuff masonry panels strengthened with fabric-reinforced matrix systems.