Innovative Structural and Energy Retrofitting System for Masonry Walls Using Textile Reinforced Mortars Combined with Thermal Insulation: In-Plane Mechanical Behavior

Textile reinforced mortars (TRM) and thermal insulating materials are integrated in a new system for structural (including seismic) and energy retrofitting of masonry. The proposed system is investigated experimentally by performing medium-scale tests on three series of masonry walls subjected to in-plane cyclic loading. Key parameters under investigation included the use of one-sided versus two-sided insulation and/or TRM jacketing, and placement of the TRM outside the insulation or between the insulation and the masonry. On the basis of the results obtained in this study the authors believe that TRM jacketing may be combined effectively with thermal insulation to substantially increase the capacity of masonry walls subjected to in-plane cyclic loading. The experimental results prove that the exact positioning of the TRM and the insulating material does not play an important role in the in-plane response of retrofitted walls, as long as proper bonding between the different layers is achieved.