Flexible repointing of historical facing-masonry column-type specimens with basalt fibers: A first insight

The strengthening of facing-masonry columns represents a current challenge since from the past for architects and engineers. A typical past solution involves the use of a continuous or punctual jacketing of the column by metal profiles. Nowadays strips of composite materials have been substituting these last ones, but even if the column is surely strengthened, the aesthetic result can be unsatisfactory. To this end, an innovative solution has been recently proposed: the use of the reinforcement into the mortar joints (repointing). This permits to hide the reinforcement so as to completely preserve the aesthetic appearance. In general, high resistant materials have been tested till now but never reaching their final strength. This way, in this paper flexible basalt fiber ropes having low mechanical strength have been placed into the mortar joints to reinforce facing-masonry column-type specimens. The first results seem to be promising in enhancing their compressive strength without compromising their aesthetical appearance and, although preliminary, they encourage further in-depth analyses.