Performance of brick masonry prisms retrofitted with fiber reinforced lime-based grouts

Abstract

Lime-based grouts have been widely used for the consolidation of historic masonries, whereas additives of various origin and proportion are used to enhance their properties at fresh and hardened state. Testing their efficiency includes analysis of their fresh and physico-mechanical properties, as well as experimental assessment of their applicability in masonry prisms and wallettes. In the present study, four grout compositions based on hydrated lime and natural pozzolan, including 0.1% v/v glass and polypropylene fibers, were manufactured and tested. They were injected in brick masonry prisms which were previously partially loaded to compression. Macroscopic observations and measurements of pulse velocity and compressive strength were performed prior and after grouting, in order to investigate the prisms behavior and the efficacy of the fiber reinforced lime-pozzolan grouts. According to the results, fibers maintained the grouts fresh properties, improving volume stability (shrinkage deformations were decreased) and long-term mechanical characteristics. The masonry prisms showed a pulse velocity increase after grouting, while compressive strength was also enhanced, especially in the case of 3 mm glass fibers addition. Generally, it was asserted that the application of fiber reinforced lime-based grouts could be feasible in the case of historic masonries restoration, rendering their study a well promising field.