Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix Research Articles

Theoretical investigation of the structural performance of multi–span reinforced concrete beams strengthened with FRCM systems

Few studies have reported on the flexural behavior of multi–span reinforced concrete (RC) structures strengthened using externally–bonded (EB) systems such as fiber–reinforced polymer (FRP) and fiber–reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) systems. This paper introduces a theoretical model that can accurately predict the flexural behavior of such structures with a focus on their rotational capacity (curvature) and their moment redistribution response between critical sections. Unlike the available models, the proposed model accounts for the variation in the structure’s stiffness during loading including that of the strengthened section. The model can precisely determine the failure mode, the rotational capacity of the formed plastic hinges and estimate the moment redistribution ratio (MRR) between the critical sections at any applied load. The efficiency of the model was validated against the experimental results of eleven FRCM–strengthened two–span RC beams (including two control beams) previously tested by the authors. A good agreement between the experimental and the theoretical results was obtained with average experimental–to–theoretical ratios of 1.0 and 0.99 for the load carrying–capacity and MRR, respectively. To accurately determine the mid–span deflections of continuous EB–strengthened structures, a new reduction parameter was incorporated in the CSA–A23.3–19 (2019) formulations to account for the variation in stiffness of the strengthened section. The new formulations substantially enhanced the prediction of the deflection capacity of the strengthened structures with an average experimental–to–theoretical ratio of 1.02 versus 1.7 when CSA formulations were used.

Double shooting method for FRCM reinforced systems in debonding problems

The debonding process in FRCM (Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix) strengthened brittle substrates, such as concrete and masonry, is characterized by complex failure modes that include debonding at both the external and internal interfaces of the composite, as well as damage to the mortar matrix. This study addresses this problem classically as a mode-II fracture process by accounting for the one-dimensional non-linear interfacial shear stress-slip relationship combined with matrix axial non-linearity. The approach employed considers the longitudinal displacements of both the inner and outer layers of mortar, along with that of the fiber textile, as unknowns, and analytically solves the second-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) system that governs the debonding problem. Then, the boundary value problem (BVP) is transformed into an initial value problem (IVP) and a double shooting method is proposed to find displacements and stresses along the bonded length in the presence of non-linearity. The appropriate initial values of matrix layer displacements, satisfying the required boundary conditions, are efficiently determined through a two-dimensional bisection method working on rectangular and triangular patches. The softening behavior of both mortar layers and interfaces between mortar and fiber are taken into account using jagged constitutive relationships to enhance convergence. The numerical calculation speed, robustness, and key simulation parameters are thoroughly discussed. Moreover, the proposed numerical approach is compared with existing experimental data and models, on both concrete and masonry FRCM-reinforced specimens. The influence of mortar failure and interfacial strength is also explored. The model demonstrates its ability to effectively reproduce the global bond behavior observed in experimental studies, while capturing the local behavior and simulating various failure modes observed in the tests.

Simplified Procedure to Determine the Cohesive Material Law of Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM)-Substrate Joints.

Fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites have been largely used to strengthen existing concrete and masonry structures in the last decade. To design FRCM-strengthened members, the provisions of the Italian CNR-DT 215 (2018) or the American ACI 549.4R and 6R (2020) guidelines can be adopted. According to the former, the FRCM effective strain, i.e., the composite strain associated with the loss of composite action, can be obtained by combining the results of direct shear tests on FRCM-substrate joints and of tensile tests on the bare reinforcing textile. According to the latter, the effective strain can be obtained by testing FRCM coupons in tension, using the so-called clevis-grip test set-up. However, the complex bond behavior of the FRCM cannot be fully captured by considering only the effective strain. Thus, a cohesive approach has been used to describe the stress transfer between the composite and the substrate and cohesive material laws (CMLs) with different shapes have been proposed. The determination of the CML associated with a specific FRCM-substrate joint is fundamental to capture the behavior of the FRCM-strengthened member and should be determined based on the results of experimental bond tests. In this paper, a procedure previously proposed by the authors to calibrate the CML from the load response obtained by direct shear tests of FRCM-substrate joints is applied to different FRCM composites. Namely, carbon, AR glass, and PBO FRCMs are considered. The results obtained prove that the procedure allows to estimate the CML and to associate the idealized load response of a specific type of FRCM to the corresponding CML. The estimated CML can be used to determine the onset of debonding in FRCM-substrate joints, the crack number and spacing in FRCM coupons, and the locations where debonding occurs in FRCM-strengthened members.

Strengthening non-engineered building using vegetal FRCM retrofitting: A numerical modeling approach for seismic assessment

The concept of developing alternative rehabilitation techniques to enhance the performance of structures with low seismic resistance has come to light in recent years. Substantial research and methods have been devoted to evolving strengthening techniques worldwide for structures with economic value, with the ultimate goal of enhancing seismic resilience in them. Among these, Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) stands out as a reliable alternative to conventional retrofitting approaches due to its high strength-to-density ratio and negligible mass increment. However, the inadequacy of full-scale modeling and the application of FRCM in building components persist in the research domain. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a numerical model for the full-scale application of vegetal FRCM composites in retrofitting a representative non-engineered building. The full-scale application of the four vegetal FRCM materials (hemp, cotton, flax, and sisal) in 1-ply and 2-ply configurations was undertaken to strengthen a non-engineered building. The results of pushover analysis show that buildings retrofitted with 2-ply hemp and 2-ply flax FRCM exhibited the most significant improvement in base shear strength, with increments of about 30% and 28.5% respectively, compared to the peak base shear of the bare frame. Additionally, the retrofitted models demonstrated an increase in their ductility. A subsequent fragility analysis highlighted a reduction in the seismic hazard vulnerability of the building for the relevant earthquake spectrums. Finally, the results from the numerical analysis confirm that the use of vegetal fibers as cementitious matrix can have significant potential to be an effective and sustainable strengthening technique for seismically deficient buildings.

Semi-analytical approach for curved masonry pillars reinforced with FRCM

The paper presents a semi-analytical approach for the study of the debonding phenomenon of Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) systems externally applied to curved masonry pillars. One of the main features of the approach consists of considering the strengthening system composed by three separated components: external mortar layer, central fiber net and internal mortar layer. These components, assumed subjected to a longitudinal state of stress, interact one each other through tangential stresses developing at the level of zero-thickness interfaces. Regarding the latter, a tri-linear shear stress-slip relationship is assumed to account for a first elastic phase, a second phase exhibiting linear softening and a third phase with a possible non-null residual strength. Since in case of curved substrates, by equilibrium, normal stresses at the interfaces between fiber and matrix arise, which modify the peak tangential resistance and the ductility, a classic Mohr-Coulomb criterion is introduced in the approach. Additionally, the central fiber net progressively transfers along the bond length the force applied at its loaded end by means of an elastic interface interposed between the internal mortar layer and the substrate, the latter assumed rigid and infinitely resistant. The longitudinal equilibrium equations written for the two mortar layers, suitably re-arranged considering the constitutive behavior of the layers, allow to deduce a field problem governed by six first order differential equations into six unknowns. The non-linearity is tackled by means of a recursive elastic numerical algorithm where the elastic modulus of the damaged materials is progressively dropped down, subdividing the bonded length into small portions where the material properties are assumed constant. For each element the solution of the field problem is known in closed form and the only variables to determine are the integration constants coming from the solution of the differential equation system. After a standard assemblage, all constants are derived imposing the boundary conditions at the extremes of the elements, which depend on the state of cracking of the matrix layer. The validation of the proposed approach is carried out with reference to recent experimental tests carried out by the Authors. The obtained results show the reliability of the approach to account for the influence of the curvature of the substrate on the debonding process of FRCM systems.

Experimental and numerical investigation of two–span RC beams strengthened with fiber–reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM)

This paper investigated both experimentally and numerically the flexural performance of two–span beams after being strengthened with polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber–reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) systems at different hogging–to–sagging (H/S) strengthening ratios. The test results revealed that the enhancement in the flexural response of the strengthened beams was highly dependent on the strengthening configuration and the number of layers used in both the hogging and sagging sections. The H/S ratio had a notable effect on the failure modes of the hogging sections only whereas the sagging sections showed similar failure modes regardless of the H/S used. Strengthening the sagging sections governed the ductility of the tested beams with a slight effect of the H/S ratio on their ductility. Despite strengthening, the hogging sections were capable to redistribute up to 37% of their moments to the sagging sections, which represented 93% of the redistribution capacity of the unstrengthened sections. This finding suggests the revision of the CSA and ACI formulations that prohibit any moment redistribution in the design of externally–bonded strengthened elements. The developed finite element model accurately predicted the experimental results in terms of the failure modes, the load–carrying capacity, the ductility, and the moment redistribution ratios between the critical sections.

Experimental investigation on a FRCM bio-composite for sustainable retrofitting of masonry buildings

Strengthening masonry structures by using green and natural materials has received increasing attention. Natural fibers can be obtained from vegetables, animals or mineral sources and can be used to meet modern buildings safety standards and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This paper presents a novel method to strengthen masonry buildings through the application of a mortar coating reinforced with natural fibers made of a jute or a basalt grid. This class of materials is known as Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM). FRCM composites can produce an increment in the mechanical properties of masonry members and contribute to the thermal-acoustic insultation of the building envelope. The mortar coating is made of a hydraulic lime: to increase thermal properties this was admixed with short spelt fibers. Both matrix (lime mortar) and fibrous material were initially mechanically and thermally characterized. Laboratory tests have been carried out to study the bond characteristics between the FRCM composite and brickwork masonry. It was found the low mechanical properties of jute fibers are aggravated by a low FRCM-to-masonry bonding, making difficult to use this material for structural retrofit. On opposite, basalt fibers exhibit high mechanical properties and their use in conservation is surely promising and interesting.

Analysis of the seismic vulnerability and innovative retrofit solutions of cavity brickwork walls

This paper offers the results of an experimental investigation aimed at assessing the seismic vulnerability of a type of cavity wall, with a brief discussion of the advantages of this form of construction. Cavity walls were mainly designed to carry vertical loads and to improve the thermal behaviour of the building envelope: these are made of two single-wythe walls (typically using low-perforated bricks) with a cavity filled with a polystyrene panel. Cavity walls often exhibit poor seismic performance. A total of 12 full-size cavity-wall panels were tested in this experimental programme at the laboratory, by conducting shear and bending tests aimed at studying the in-plane and out-of-plane structural responses under simulated seismic actions. In addition, different retrofit solutions were studied and used to reinforce the cavity-wall panels: this included the traditional method to tie the wall leaves with steel connectors, an innovative method made of GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers) rods, and a mortar coating reinforced with a composite grid, known as FRCM (Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix). It was found that the lateral bending-capacity of the panels reinforced with the GFRP rods and a FRCM coating greatly increased over that of the control unreinforced specimens. The proposed reinforced method was able to provide some seismic resisting capacity to the cavity walls, especially against bending and out-of-plane loading, in a more effective way than the traditional method of steel ties.

Study on the physicochemical properties of Chinese PVA fibers: Toward low-cost cement-based composites

Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) reinforced by Japanese Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fiber showed excellent tensile ductility, which attracted much attention in the field of civil engineering in recent years, but the application was still limited by cost. There were quite a few kinds of low-priced PVA fibers in China, with a tremendous difference in physical and chemical properties. In this paper, a variety of typical PVA fibers produced in different regions in China were compared with the products imported from Japan to analyze the performance differences, especially the dispersion and enhancement effect in fiber reinforced cement matrix composites. Combining with the physical and chemical characteristics of each fiber, the relationship between the characteristics of fibers and the properties of composites was summarized. The experimental results illustrated the strength and interface characteristics of PVA fibers were the dominating influencing factors to the bending and tensile properties of PVA-ECC, while hardly affected the compressive strength. Insufficient intrinsic strength of fibers significantly decreased bending resistance and tensile strength. Excessive oil agent treated PVA fibers performed lower interfacial reaction with the cement matrix, meanwhile original PVA fiber with high hydrophilicity was not conducive to the dispersion and bridging function. The appropriate interface treatment approach could guarantee the fibers to achieve the sliding pull out bridge connection, and also meet the high slip strengthening effect, leading to the multi-seam cracking and strain hardening characteristics of ECC material. This work provided the preparation of low-cost cement-based composites, guiding the selection of fiber raw materials in ECC.

Shear capacity prediction for FRCM-strengthened RC beams using Hybrid ReLU-Activated BPNN model

This study presents a robust Hybrid ReLU-Activated Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN) model for predicting shear strength (VFRCM) in RC beams reinforced with Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites. The model demonstrates exceptional accuracy, boasting a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.924 and a mean root mean squared error (RMSE) of 10.611 kN on the test set. Leveraging k-fold cross-validation, the model's performance is rigorously assessed across ten data splits, emphasizing its reliable predictive capabilities. Hyperparameter optimization, guided by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), reveals an optimal value of α = 0.5757, minimizing the Mean Squared Error (MSE) to 74.53 for the dataset. Feature importance analysis underscores the significant role of critical parameters in shear strength prediction, with the longitudinal reinforcement ratio (ρl) emerging as the most influential feature, contributing 37.55 % to the model's predictive power. Additionally, the effective beam depth (d) is identified as the second most influential feature, providing approximately 16 % to the accurate prediction of VFRCM in RC beams strengthened with FRCM composites.

Prediction of compressive strength of brick columns confined with FRP, FRCM, and SRG system using GEP and ANN methods

This study assesses the strength capacity of brick columns under various confinement materials, including fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM), and steel-reinforced grout (SRG) using gene expression programming (GEP) and artificial neural networks (ANN) models. To achieve this, a comprehensive database of masonry column test results from existing scientific literature is compiled. The models' performance is evaluated using statistical errors like the coefficient of linear correlation (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), and root mean square error (RMSE). Additionally, sensitivity analysis is carried out to assess the significance of individual parameters in the models. The findings reveal that ANN predictions closely match empirical data, demonstrating a strong correlation coefficient of 0.95. The accuracy of the ANN approach is reasonably high, with only 26% of the predicted values deviating by more than 20% from the actual data. Based on the statistical analyses, the correlation coefficient between the actual and estimated data was 0.88, for GEP method. Also, the GEP model yields outcomes, with roughly 43% of the predicted values differing by 20–50% from the actual data. In a comparison of the two models, the ANN model outperforms the GEP model, displaying a 40% reduction in error when estimating the compressive strength of masonry columns. The data estimated by the GEP were sparser than those estimated by the ANN. Nevertheless, the GEP model still maintains an acceptable correlation coefficient and error rate, making it a viable choice for precise predictions. It offers a user-friendly formula and meets the needs of both customers and builders.

Prediction of Flexural Strength of RC Circular Columns Considering Lateral Confinement Effects of FRCM and Transverse Steel Reinforcement

There has recently been growing interest in making a sustainable and durable fiber reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) to improve the seismic performance of RC column members. However, most studies evaluating the lateral confinement effect on FRCM jacketing concrete have excluded the confinement effect of transverse steel reinforcement and focused solely on mechanical properties. This paper, based on existing studies, proposes a peak axial stress formula that considers the lateral confinement effects of FRCM composite and transverse steel reinforcement. Additionally, the study assesses the structural performance of FRCM composites with flexural strengthening in actual size RC circular columns and predicts the maximum flexural strength by applying the proposed formula. The proposed peak axial stress formula, considering the influence of transverse reinforcement, was compared with the experimental value (databases) and the predicted value, and the suitability was confirmed with a standard deviation of 27.6% and a coefficient of variation of 0.856. In addition, the maximum flexural strength of actual size RC circular columns predicted by applying this formula ranged from 0.97 to 1.02, which effectively predicted the experimental values.

A UNIFIED MACHINE LEARNING MODEL TO PREDICT ULTIMATE TENSILE AND BOND CAPACITY OF FRCM

Fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) is a new-era material for strengthening concrete and masonry structures. Unlike Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP), it has excellent substrate bond properties. However, FRCM shows intra-fiber slip and Fiber-matrix debonding as its major failure modes, effectively reducing its ultimate load-carrying capacity. It has led to broad research scope, and researchers have used permutations and combinations of various types of fibers, matrices, coatings, and substrates to improve the tensile and bond properties of the FRCM composites. Additionally, other experimental parameters, such as rate of loading and experimental setup (clevis, hydraulic or mechanical), affect the tensile and bond properties of FRCM composites. Complex failure modes and parameters make tensile and bond capacity prediction very difficult. Previous attempts by researchers showed the effectiveness of machine learning in predicting the bond capacity of the FRCM composites. Artificial neural network (ANN) based models have also been used successfully to predict the flexural capacity of FRCM-strengthened masonry panels. This study develops a unified machine learning-based model to predict bond and tensile capacity using complex tree-based algorithms such as extra tree regressor, categorically boosted trees, extreme Gradient boosted trees, etc. The authors extracted 603 data points from the literature to develop and validate the model; this includes 345 data points from tensile testing and 258 data points from FRCM-concrete bond testing. It is found that the developed tree-based model predicts the ultimate tensile and bond capacity with about 93% and 95% overall accuracy, respectively.

EVALUATION OF RETROFIT EFFECTIVENESS AND COST IMPLICATIONS OF MRF STRUCTURES USING DISTINCT FRCM COMPOSITE SYSTEMS

This paper summarizes the results of a numerical investigation to assess the effectiveness of retrofitting pre-seismic code concrete framing structural systems using two distinct fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites. While FRCM composites were focused in the literature at the member level, this study focuses on implementing this retrofit technique effectively at the structure level. Several static pushover analyses (SPAs) and inelastic dynamic simulations (IDSs) are carried out for FRCM-retrofitted RC frames representing the lateral force-resisting system of a moment-resisting frame (MRF) structure. Correlating the numerical simulation results and experimental results obtained from another study verified the selected fiber discretized section modeling technique for FRCM retrofitted MRFs and reflected the effectiveness of the adopted approach in prolonging local and global damage states. The verified modeling technique of the risk-mitigation measure is then employed to evaluate the performance of an upgraded RC building using three-dimensional fiber-based numerical models. Finally, a parametric study using SPAs and IDSs using multiple seismic scenarios is conducted to select the most effective FRCM retrofit material for the seismic performance enhancement of the benchmark structure. The study concludes that using the selected FRCM retrofit technique effectively mitigated the structural collapse damage state of the substandard building at the design and maximum considered seismic intensity levels by 28% and 32%, respectively.

Residual Properties of Fibre Grids Embedded in Cementitious Matrices after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures

The use of fabrics in the form of grids embedded in cementitious matrices—usually termed as textile-reinforced mortar, fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix, or textile-reinforced concrete—demonstrate a more stable performance in elevated temperature conditions compared with fiber-reinforced polymers. This study investigated the residual tensile properties of bare yarns and fabrics in the form of grids embedded in a cementitious mortar after exposure to 100 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C. Three different coated fabric textiles were used as reinforcement: carbon, basalt, and glass. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted to evaluate potential changes in the internal structure of the fibers and the mortar. The cracking stress, the tensile strength, and the ultimate strain of the composite specimens were increased after exposure to 100 °C, while only carbon and glass fiber grids retained their effectiveness up to 200 °C. At 300 °C, the coupons reinforced with carbon and basalt fibers deteriorated rapidly. Only the glass counterparts showed an improved overall performance due to fiber contraction and the differences in the coating material. The results highlight the differences in the performance of the three fiber types and the important role of the coating material in the overall composite behavior.

Strengthening of reinforced concrete beams using fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix systems fabricated with custom-designed mortar and fabrics

Strengthening of reinforced concrete beams using fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix systems fabricated with custom-designed mortar and fabrics

Non-linear analytical model for FRCM coupons in tension

Externally bonded FRCM (Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix) materials are nowadays quite diffused to reinforce existing structures: taking as reference FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer), the replacement of an organic matrix with mortar is more compatible with masonry substrates, and the reversibility of the reinforcement is more appealing for the architectural heritage conservation. At the same time, due to the low strength of the mortar layers, complex failure mechanisms are observed for FRCMs, which still need comprehensive theoretical investigations. Indeed, not only the mortar-fiber interface may behave non-linearly, but also the mortar may crack and affect the overall behavior. The tensile test on coupons is commonly used as a direct approach to characterize the properties of the reinforcing package, and there is a wide consensus on approximating the global behavior with a trilinear law; however, the different test set-ups and the inhomogeneity of the material itself bring about large dispersion of the experimental results. This paper aims at proposing a simplified analytical model to consider the damage mechanisms in FRCM coupons in tension, including interface slippage, mortar cracking, and their simultaneous occurrence. The accuracy of the model is then verified by comparing the results with experimental data. The conditions under which such failure mechanisms occur and the effects of material properties are also investigated with a view to complement the understanding of experimental observations from a theoretical perspective.

Experimental and numerical investigation for confined concrete elements with fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM)

In this research, the strength of confined concrete was tested and evaluated numerically by examining the influence of three variables: fibre material, corner radius, and FRCM (Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix) layer number. The study used thirty C-FRCM and thirty G-FRCM specimens and developed a new empirical formula to estimate confined concrete compressive strength based on experimental results. The advanced formula was then used to determine the input parameters of the nonlinear concrete Mazar model for simulating confined concrete areas. A parametric study investigated the effects of cross-section size, corner radius, cross-section scale, fibre mesh type, and the number of FRCM layers on confined concrete compressive strength. The proposed finite element method was found to be effective in accurately predicting confined element compressive strength and nonlinear behaviour, including core concrete, FRCM layers, and stress concentrations at corners.

Modeling of shear-lap tests of flat and curved masonry specimens strengthened by FRCM

Nowadays Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) systems play a relevant role in the context of innovative interventions for the seismic rehabilitation of masonry structures. Their capacity in improving the strength of masonry components is comparable with the one observed in case of Fiber Reinforce Polymer (FRP) systems, but with additional advantages (lower costs, environmental compatibility, removability, etc.). Nevertheless, although a relevant number of applications concerns curved structures (arches, vaults, domes, etc.), the majority of studies available in literature provide a contribution mainly concerning the specific case of applications on flat masonry substrates. The present paper is part of a research activity carried out by the Authors with the main goal to provide a contribution toward the study of the bond behavior of FRCM systems externally applied to curved masonry elements. In particular, the results of numerical analyses carried out by means of a simple modeling approach proposed by the Authors are here carried out by considering as case studies specimens object of a recent experimental investigation. Specific aspects influencing the local bond behavior of FRCM systems applied on curved masonry substrates are then analyzed by opportunely introducing them into the numerical model. The obtained results allow for understanding the effect of important features, experimentally observed in terms of global response, and here assessed in terms of local bond behavior, by particularly emphasizing the role of the curvature and the strengthening position.

Shake-table testing and numerical simulation to select the FRCM retrofit solution for flexure/shear deficient RC frames

This paper presents shake-table and numerical investigations to select a retrofit strategy for reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures using fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites. Two FRCM alternatives are investigated, namely polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) and carbon FRCM composites, denoted as ‘P-FRCM’ and ‘C-FRCM’, respectively. The study focuses on implementing the selected retrofit material with spike anchorage systems to delay the debonding failure and addresses different failure modes of RC framing systems, including shear or flexure failure. The first phase of this study involves pre shake-table test (STT) simulation to investigate the effectiveness of the selected retrofit technique in delaying local and global damage states and failure modes. STT campaigns are undertaken in the second phase to assess the seismic performance of framing systems retrofitted with different FRCM materials and verify their fiber-based modeling approach. The verified numerical modeling approach of the retrofit techniques is utilized in the third phase to upgrade a benchmark RC moment-resisting frame (MRF) building. A parametric study involving inelastic pushover analyses (IPAs) and multi-record incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) is finally conducted to assess the vulnerability of the retrofitted building with different FRCM alternatives. It is concluded that the adopted two retrofit techniques significantly reduced the collapse damage state at the design and maximum considered earthquake intensities by up to 59% and 46%, respectively. Although the P-FRCM composite has 38% higher tensile strength and 76% higher ultimate tensile strain than C-FRCM, it slightly improves the overall seismic performance by up to 9% based on the adopted seismic performance index. Owing to the higher cost of P-FRCM compared with its counterpart, a performance-to-cost index confirmed that the C-FRCM composite is the preferred retrofit technique for MRF structures.