New Italian guidelines for design of externally bonded Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) systems for repair and strengthening of masonry and concrete structures

The paper summarizes the main features of a standardization activity carried out in Italy by the Ministry of Public Works, to which two of the authors have taken part, for the homologation and the acceptance of Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites. During the last years, such composite materials have becoming increseangly popular in the civil engineering field for strengthening existing constructions, even if difficulties can occur in their mechanical characterization that is strongly affected by different and complex failure mechanisms. The American ACI 549.4R-13 is currently the only available guideline for design and construction of these systems. In this framework, the paper describes the Italian proposals for the homologation process of FRCM materials as well as for the design of strengthening interventions with these composites. Comparisons with the American guideline are also reported together with some considerations regarding the different partial safety factors.