Stone masonry walls: Strengthening with TRM (I)

The purpose of this paper is to present the state of an investigation aimed at strengthening decayed stone masonry walls with textile reinforced lime-cement mortars (TRM). The proposed solution could be applied by itself or jointly with other techniques of reinforcement, like sewing or injections, to guarantee the integrity of the wall. The validation of this strengthening system is carried out by a laboratory test campaign. The experimental study is based on the typology of the Spanish Romanesque walls, a plentiful constructive element in this country. The validation of the solution is being done by means of a characterization of the individual materials (stone, mortar, TRM), designing of the anchor system and construction, strengthening and testing of 1/3 scale stone walls. The wall specimens have been erected with the same configuration of the original ones. They are three-leaf masonry walls with an inner core made of low quality mortar and rough-cut sandstone pieces (remains from rough-shaping of the stones), poured between the two external layers, and they are deflected a common structural damage in these elements.