Bond Mechanism of FRPs Externally Applied to Curved Masonry Structures: Experimental Outcomes and Numerical Modeling

Abstract

The studies contained in the current literature particularly emphasize the importance of the role of the local bond mechanism on the global performance of fiber reinforced polymer systems (FRPs) employed for the strengthening and the rehabilitation of structures. Nevertheless, although several applications of FRPs involve curved masonry structures (arches, vaults, domes, etc.), the bond mechanism of FRPs applied on masonry samples with curved substrates is a topic still scarcely investigated and the actual guidelines do not provide specific design formulas. The aim of the present paper is to analyze the main features characterizing the bond behavior of FRPs externally applied to masonry specimens with a curved substrate configuration throughout a simple modeling approach based on the interface concept. Particular consideration is devoted to the development of suitable constitutive laws for the FRP/masonry interface. Considering case studies derived from the current literature, consisting of shear-lap bond tests of curved masonry specimens characterized by different curvatures of the bonded surface and different strengthening configurations, numerical analyses are carried out in order to emphasize the ability of the model to capture the bond behavior of FRP applied on curved masonry substrates.