Description
In the last decades interest of researchers in the field of vegetal fiber-based biocomposite materials to be used for structural strengthening has grown significantly. This interest is primarily driven by the plant fiber abundance, renewability, cost-effectiveness, historical-compatibility, and eco-friendly features. This work investigates a novel biocomposite material for structural strengthening of masonry structures made of hydraulic lime mortar, enhanced with different kind of additives, and mixed with Spanish broom and hemp fibers coated with graphene. Mechanical properties of these biocomposite materials are addressed experimentally by three-point bending tests and uniaxial compression tests. The results are compared to a reference material, made of classical lime mortar, to investigate the best performances in the fiber-matrix bond. In particular, stress-strain curves are recorded to estimate maximum strength and strain together with a measure of fracture energy.
