Design provisions for FRCM systems bonded to concrete and masonry elements

Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) materials are becoming an alternative strengthening technique to the well-known Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials applied by means of epoxy resin, especially for masonry elements. Experimental tests have shown that the performance of elements strengthened with FRCM systems depends on the bond behaviour at both the reinforcement/substrate and grout/grid interface. Because of the novelty of the FRCM technique and the wide spectrum of FRCM materials (both grouts and grids) present on the market, no design indications are now available for such a strengthening technique, for both concrete and masonry elements.