Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrices (FRCMs) are a novel composite material for strengthening structures. Fabric contributes to tying cross-sections under tensile stress. The complexity of the interfaces between the fabric and the matrix does not allow having a simple and accurate model that enables practitioners to perform feasible calculations. This work developed an analytical approach and a numerical simulation based on the reduction of FRCMs’ strength capabilities under tensile stress states. The concept of effective strength was estimated for different types of fabrics (basalt, carbon, glass, poly p-phenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO), and steel) from experimental evidence. The proposed models calculate the ultimate bending moment for reinforced concrete (RC) structures strengthened with FRCMs. The numerical models performed simulations that reproduced the moment–deflection curves of the different tested beams. Steel fabric showed the highest contribution to strength (78%), while PBO performed the worst (6%). Basalt and carbon showed irregular contributions.

FRCM is a strengthening system based on composite material made of a cementitious matrix and fabrics. This strengthening system has been studied and researched, obtaining analytical predictive models where it is common to assume full composite action between components. Through using non-typical materials for these composites, it has been seen that, in some cases, the previous assumption cannot be taken. In this situation, traditional analytical models such as ACK or tri-linear ones do not offer a reasonable prediction. This work researches the behavior of synthetic and naturally coated vegetal-FRCM with partial interaction through the characterization of the materials through tensile tests. Yarns, meshes and different FRCM coupons were manufactured and mechanically tested using different types of coatings and fabrics. The use of colophony and Arabic gum as natural coatings provided similar mechanical properties to the cotton and hemp yarns and meshes conformed. Partial interaction was found when using epoxy as a natural resin to coat the reinforcement while maintaining the mechanical properties in the same order of magnitude. A new two-stage model is proposed to fit stress–strain mechanical test, and it is reliable and accurate for cotton specimens.

Designing optimum energy harvesting devices is the aim of several developments based on numerical or analytical studies of different piezoelectric configurations that usually consider constant piezoelectric properties. Experimental tests on bending piezoelectric patches showed that the electrical response depended on the frequency and amplitude of the mechanical excitation for displacement-imposed systems. Analytical and numerical calculations required adapting piezoelectric parameters to properly represent experimental results. A novel formulation to calculate piezoelectric parameters using the mechanical stress and the excitation frequency as inputs is proposed and discussed. A linear dependency on the mechanical stress of the piezoelectric ceramic and a logarithmic dependency on the excitation frequency have been combined to propose a unique calculation procedure. Later, this procedure was applied to compute different piezoelectric parameters to set numerical (2% error) and analytical (1% error) calculations that accurately represented experimental results. Finally, the practical implications of considering or not considering the frequency and stress dependency of the piezoelectric properties was evaluated for a theoretical bimorph cantilever configuration, whose excitation frequency decreased whereas the amplitude was kept constant. Results showed that only 1/3 of the energy production that was predicted with constant piezoelectric properties can be expected when considering frequency and stress influence.