An innovative structural and energy retrofitting system for URM walls using textile reinforced mortars combined with thermal insulation: Mechanical and fire behavior

The application of a new system, which combines textile reinforced mortars (TRM) and thermal insulating materials as a means of both structural (including seismic) and energy retrofitting of masonry walls is experimentally investigated in this study. Medium scale tests were carried out on 17 masonry walls subjected to out-of-plane bending. Several parameters were investigated, including the use of fire-resistant (cement-based) versus polymer-based insulating material, one sided versus two-sided insulation and/or TRM jacketing, placement of the TRM outside the insulation or in a sandwich form (over and under the insulation) and the displacement amplitude of the loading cycles. From the results obtained in this study the authors believe that TRM jacketing may be combined effectively with thermal insulation, which can be fire-resistant too.