In recent decades, many strengthening interventions on masonry elements were performed by using fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs). These advanced materials proved to be effective to increase the load-carrying capacity of masonry elements and to improve their structural behavior, avoiding the most critical failure modes. Despite the advantages of this technique compared to more traditional methods, FRP systems have disadvantages related to their low resistance to high temperatures, impossibility of application on wet surfaces, low permeability, and poor compatibility with masonry supports. Therefore, composite materials made of a fiber textile embedded in an inorganic matrix were recently proposed as alternatives to FRPs for strengthening historic masonry constructions. These composite materials are easier to install, have higher resistance to high temperatures, and permit higher vapor permeability than FRPs. The inorganic matrix is frequently a cement-based mortar, and the composite materials made of a fiber textile embedded in a cement-based mortar are usually identified as FRCM (fabric reinforced cementitious matrix) composites. More recently, the use of natural lime mortar as an inorganic matrix has been proposed as an alternative to cement-based mortars when historic compatibility with the substrate is strictly required, as in case of restoration of historic buildings. In this paper, the effectiveness of a fabric made of basalt fibers embedded in lime mortar matrix (Basalt-FRLM) for the strengthening of masonry arches is investigated. An experimental investigation was performed on 1:2 scaled brick masonry arches strengthened at the extrados with a layer of Basalt-FRLM and tested under vertical load. The results obtained are compared with previous results obtained by the authors by testing masonry arches strengthened at their extrados with FRCM and FRP composites. This investigation highlights the effectiveness of Basalt-FRLM in increasing load-currying and the displacement capacities of masonry arches. The Basalt-FRLM-strengthened arch exhibited higher displacement capacity when compared to arches strengthened with polymeric and cementitious matrix composites.

H-BIM paradigms are constituted by 3-D informative contents documenting the current and past state of existing structures. Although the transversal vision and the multidisciplinary interpretation have been attributed to BIM models, in the field of monumental structures, these databases can be organized in different ways depending on the adopted protocol and classifications for the required output of the work. In this manuscript, an H-BIM approach targeted at collecting and providing useful information to execute seismic vulnerability analyses of monumental structures is presented. The BIM modeling followed a protocol based on the following steps: geometrical acquisitions, scan-to-BIM modeling, and informative data collection. The methodology has been applied to the oldest part of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence (IT), an important monumental masonry structure representing the political headquarter of the city since the Middle Ages. The parametric modeling was realized classifying the information according to structural perspectives based on the cognitive steps for the investigation of the existing structures. Finally, a seismic assessment has been realized through a simplified procedure developed for cultural heritage buildings. The outcomes of the evaluation are still part of the collected information of the H-BIM model, as an example of continuous improvement of the available contents of the database.

Nonlinear static procedures (NSPs), also known as “pushover methods”, represent the most used tool in the professional practice for assessment of seismic performance of building structures. Most of the methods subscribed by major seismic codes for seismic analysis of new or existing buildings have been originally defined for simple regular structures. Nevertheless, perfect regularity is an idealization that very rarely occurs and, in principle, the concept of irregularity itself is a fuzzy one. Most codes attempt to give a definition to the concept of “regularity”, considering issues related to the distribution of mass, stiffness and strength in the building, both in plan and in elevation. Real buildings rarely comply with these regularity requirements, resulting in a barely reliable application of the basic NSPs. Code specifications concerning irregular structures are in need of improvement and they do not provide for clear and specific guidelines for the seismic analysis of such structures. Therefore the problem of the seismic evaluation of irregular structures is still an open one and basic issues need to be further explored. The present paper aims at providing a wide outlook on the problem of the seismic assessment of plan irregular building structures. Firstly, a brief review of the elastic and inelastic methods for the assessment of the torsional effects induced by in-plan irregularity is presented, mainly aimed at the definition of the variables governing the problem. Then, the basic features of the most important NSPs are discussed, followed by the description of the recent improvements developed for irregular structures. Since there is not yet a fully satisfactory solution, pros and cons of the various approaches are outlined, highlighting the most promising methods and the issues that are yet to be investigated. Finally, recommendations for code improvement are suggested.

In the past, steel hoops were applied over the height of columns to increase their load-bearing capacity. Currently, innovative strengthening techniques, namely fiber-reinforced composites, are successfully replacing traditional systems. Although fiber-reinforced polymers were demonstrated to be effective in the confinement of columns, the use of fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) systems is preferred in the case of masonry columns belonging to architectural heritage buildings because of the compatibility with the masonry substrate as well as the reversibility of the intervention. In this paper, the influence of different matrices on the effectiveness of confinement of masonry columns is investigated both experimentally and analytically. Three different matrices are considered to assemble the composite: a natural lime mortar with poor mechanical properties, a cement mortar, and a commercial mortar with high compression strength. The FRCM system was obtained by embedding a polyparaphenylenebenzobisoxazole fabric within these matrices. Results of axial compression tests demonstrate the effectiveness of confinement in all cases, highlighting the different increases in the load-bearing capacity and ductility of the columns provided by the use of different matrices. The main predictive formulas available in the literature were used to compute the increase in the load-bearing capacity of the tested columns, providing values very different than those obtained experimentally. For this reason, the authors believe that these formulas, which are affected by coefficients fine-tuned by the various authors based on their experimental results, need to be further calibrated and tuned to be successfully used in practical applications. Accordingly, the use of two different equations in the case of matrices having a compression strength higher or lower than the strength of the unconfined column is proposed.