Textile Reinforced Mortars (TRM) versus Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) as strengthening materials of concrete structures

Synopsis: Fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) are investigated in this study in comparison with a new class of materials, textile reinforced mortars (TRM), for shear strengthening and/or seismic retrofitting of concrete structures. Textiles comprise fabric meshes made of long woven, knitted or even unwoven fiber rovings in at least two (typically orthogonal) directions. Mortars – serving as binders – contain polymeric additives in order to have improved strength properties. In this study, experimental investigations were carried out in order to provide a better understanding on the effectiveness of TRM versus FRP jackets as a means of increasing: (i) the axial capacity of concrete through confinement; and (ii) the load-carrying capacity of shear-critical reinforced concrete flexural members. From the results obtained it is strongly believed that the proposed TRM strengthening technique is a viable alternative to the already successful FRP strengthening technique