Strengthening of masonry structures with Fibre Reinforced Plastics: from modern conception to historical building preservation

Modern techniques and innovative materials are often rapidly proposed and allowed in the current practice, even for restoration of historical constructions,where fundamental preservation criteria have to be taken into account.The large variability and complexity of masonry structures and typologies make particularly difficult the preliminary choices for proper structural models and interventions, that should be based of suitable knowledge of both existing and new materials, and of their interaction under environmental and loading conditions. Despite the increasing number of specific studies of FRP reinforcement on masonry structures, still limited codes and recommendations are available so far. Harmonization of test procedures and methods should be pursued, in order to compare results and calibrate analytical and numerical models for design and assessment rules.