Inuence of water on bond behavior between CFRP sheet and natural

calcareous stones
Margherita Stefania Sciolti
1
, Maria Antonietta Aiello

, Mariaenrica Frigione
2
Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 21 October 2011
Received in revised form 15 February 2012
Accepted 2 March 2012
Available online 13 March 2012
Keywords:
A. Polymermatrix composites (PMCs)
B. Debonding
B. Environmental degradation
D. Mechanical testing
Calcareous stones
a b s t r a c t
In this paper the effect of a long term immersion in water on bond durability is analyzed when FRPs (Fiber
Reinforced Plastic) are externally applied to a masonry substrate. In the performed research a substrate
made by natural calcareous stones, strengthened by CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) sheets has
been analyzed. For a better comprehension of water effect on the adhesive bond between stone and CFRP,
the same treatments were performed to the constituent materials, namely epoxy resins, CFRP sheets and
stones. To this aim mechanical tests were carried out on stone, composite materials and epoxy resins
before and after their immersion in water, evaluating the effects of this agent on the properties of the
materials. The inuence of the aging in water on the interface stone-reinforcement was analyzed in terms
of bond strength, maximum bond stress, optimal bond length, slip-bond stress relationship and mode of
failure. In addition the possibility of calibrating design relationships, taking into account the inuence of
environmental conditions is discussed. Detailed results on adhesives and composites aged in water have
been reported in a previous paper while in the present work the signicant decay of the mechanical prop-
erties of the stone is specically investigated. With regard to the conditioning treatment a reduction of
the bond strength has been observed (up to 26%) as well as a similar decrease of the maximum bond
stress; in addition the aged specimens have shown a more fragile behavior. On the basis of the obtained
results the empirical coefcient, reported in the available Italian Guidelines, to determine the FRP-
masonry bond strength seems still effective when the system FRP-masonry is aged in water once the
properties of the aged materials are considered in the provided relationships.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
The need of structural interventions on masonry constructions
is increasing in the recent years for several reasons: the low sus-
tainability of demolition and reconstruction instead of repairing,
the high vulnerability to seismic actions experienced during earth-
quakes, the changed usage that requires structural upgrading, the
importance of conservation when referring to buildings of archi-
tectural and historical value. Traditional techniques for both global
and local interventions are generally based on the use of steel and
reinforced concrete: steel ties are considered for connecting struc-
tural elements or for eliminating thrust of arches and vaults; injec-
tions of mortar or reinforced grouted perforations are employed to
repair damaged masonry or upgrading masonry structures under
both gravity and seismic loads; very common is also the applica-
tion of single or double reinforced concrete leaves to improve
stiffness and strength; nally the introduction of additional struc-
tural elements (reinforced concrete walls or steel bracing) is con-
sidered for bearing horizontal actions. The testing by time and
the deeper knowledge of the structural behavior, mostly under
seismic actions, evidenced the main weakness of the traditional
techniques: the durability aspects when using steel; the increased
mass when concrete or reinforced concrete is applied, involving
higher gravity loads and, thus, rising seismic forces. Other draw-
backs are related to aesthetic and functionality because of the pos-
sible obstruction of new areas, long time of interventions and
therefore of activities interruption, conservation when referring
to historical buildings and monuments. The last issue is of great
relevance for constructions supervised by the National Ofces for
Historical Heritage Preservation, for which the compatibility and
reversibility of interventions are primarily addressed.
In the last decade, the use of FRP composites for repair and/or
upgrading existing building has been proved an effective solution,
able to overcome some of the drawbacks experienced with tradi-
tional interventions. Several scientic works have been devoted
to the use of FRP on existing concrete structures, the most recent
founds being reported in [14], as well as different codes or
guidelines are available in many countries [510]. The application
1359-8368/$ - see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.03.002

Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 0832 297248.

E-mail addresses: margherita.sciolti@unile.it (M.S. Sciolti), antonietta.aiello@
unisalento.it (M.A. Aiello), mariaenrica.frigione@unile.it (M. Frigione).
1
Tel.: +39 0832 297384.
2
Tel.: +39 0832 297215.
Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250
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of FRP on masonry structures, even if considered a promising solu-
tion, has received less attention fromresearchers and only in the re-
cent years the Italian Research Council published a guideline in this
eld [11]. Moreover it is well known that the assessment of design
guidelines of general validity is even more difcult in this context
because of the great variability of masonry and construction typol-
ogies worldwide as well as the different approaches in different
countries for conservation. On the other hand it is well recognized
that the reliability of the strengthening technique by using EBR
(externally bonded reinforcement) made by FRP materials depends
in a large extent on the bond between the reinforcement and the
substrate and therefore on the ability of stresses transfer at the
interface. Generally masonry wall strengthened by external FRP
sheet may undergo the crisis by both local and global failure modes,
namely the cracking of masonry in tension, the crushing of masonry
in compression, the shear-sliding of masonry, the failure of the FRP
reinforcement, and, nally, the delamination of FRP from masonry
substrate. The last mechanism is considered very dangerous as
causing a brittle and premature collapse. In addition, under seismic
actions the accomplishment of the capacity design principle re-
quires that the debonding failure never takes place before the com-
pression crushing of masonry. The debonding mechanism may be
classied in two main modes: plate end debonding (when debond-
ing starts at the ends of the reinforcement) and intermediate crack
debonding (when debonding starts from mortar joints or masonry
cracks). When the FRP reinforcement is subjected to tensile stresses
(at its ends or in its area around cracks or mortar joints) the FRP
masonry interface undergoes high tangential stresses localized on
very short length, starting from the discontinuity section. Aiming
to evaluate the maximum force that can be transferred by the rein-
forcement (froma discontinuity section) prior to debonding specic
bond analysis and testing should be assessed.
Some research works have been devoted to the analysis of the
bond between FRP reinforcement and masonry. The bond behavior
and load transfer mechanisms at the FRP-masonry interface were
found basically similar to those of FRP-concrete joints. In fact bond
tests evidenced the occurrence of a dangerous mechanism of fail-
ure due to delamination, even more pronounced when FRP strips
are glued to historic masonry, characterized by poor surface prop-
erties. [1216]. The research work discussed in [15] emphasizes as
the failure delamination is caused by low values of the fracture en-
ergy, varying in the range 0.210.52 N/mm; in addition experi-
mental values of the ultimate slip have been found higher than
those registered for FRP-concrete bonded joints. In [16] the effects
of a large amount of resin impregnating the porous masonry sub-
strate has been also analyzed, evidencing as that parameter could
limit the extension of existing bond models to the case of masonry.
Moreover the interface behavior can be affected by the environ-
mental action or other aggressive agents, that could greatly com-
promise the durability of the intervention. It is well recognized
as the performances in terms of durability is very difcult to eval-
uate, since it depends on the intrinsic durability of not only the FPR
system used to rehabilitate the structure, but also on the integrity
of the adhesive bond between the FRP and the stone substrate, and
on the durability of the substrate itself [1737].
Few studies have been devoted to the analysis of the durability
of masonry strengthened by FRPs materials and a deeper knowl-
edge in this eld is an important challenge of the scientic
community.
A nite-element modeling procedure for analyzing moisture-
induced stresses in a multi-layered structure made by distinct per-
meable materials is reported in [1720]. The effect of a temperature
gradient on the moisture distribution has been also investigated,
particularly referring to masonry elements made by concrete blocks
and externally reinforced by FRP sheets.
The research study reported in Ouyang and Wan [21] concerns
the effect of the Interface Region Relative Humidity (IRRH) on the
bond between CFRP and concrete. In particular, a relationship be-
tween the residual thickness of concrete (RTC) and the IRRH has
been found, being RTC the concrete layer attached to the reinforce-
ment after the FRP delamination. The moisture effects on bond
durability, referring to FRP-concrete joints, have been extensively
studied using experimental methods [2137]. The obtained results
clearly evidence as moisture plays an important role in the durabil-
ity of bond between FRP and concrete, affecting the whole struc-
tural response of the strengthened elements. In fact, moisture
reduces the fracture energy up to debonding; often causes the fail-
ure mode changing from cohesive, within the concrete substrate,
to adhesive, at the interface; involves a decrease of the ultimate
capacity of FRP strengthened reinforced concrete beams. As emerg-
ing from the experimental researches performed, different param-
eters affect the fracture energy value of the FRP-concrete joints,
namely the environmental relative humidity, the specimen dimen-
sion conguration, the material diffusion properties, the test ap-
proach, and the surface treatment of the specimens. As a
consequence the assessment of a model of general validity, den-
ing the bond durability in presence of water/moisture, is still a
complex task.
In the present paper the effect of water on the durability of the
interface FRP-masonry has been analyzed. To this aim an investiga-
tion on bond between FRP sheets and natural calcareous stones has
been carried out after immersion in water for different periods of
time. The utilized Lecce stone is traditionally employed in ma-
sonry constructions of the Salentine Peninsula, in southern Italy,
and is typically of the baroque architectural monuments of the
region. The commercial reinforcements used are made by unidirec-
tional one-layer carbon bers and an epoxy based matrix, applied
at the substrate by the hand lay-up technique. Each utilized mate-
rial (stones, adhesive, composite sheets) has been also aged in
water following the same above-mentioned procedures in order
to investigate the inuence of the durability of any single compo-
nent on the bond durability. In particular, the effect of water on
epoxy resins and FRP composites have been widely presented
and discussed in [38], while results regarding the mechanical deg-
radation of the utilized stone following the treatment investigated
are reported here. As concerns the bond tests, the bond strength
and the kind of failure have been analyzed, as well as the strains
and stresses distribution at the interface. In order to estimate the
degradation caused by water on the bond performance and on
materials properties, the results obtained after conditioning have
been compared with those referring to standard conditions. On
the basis of the provisions given by the Research National Council
Bulletin [11] the possibility of calibrating design relationships, able
to take into account the durability aspect, is discussed.
While several specimens have been tested for materials charac-
terization, few bond tests have been investigated at this stage of
the research work. On the other hand, the main scope of this work
has been the understanding of aging effect on materials involved
(substrate and reinforcement) and the detailed analysis of its inu-
ence on the bond behavior under the most severe conditions. The
results obtained could contribute to furnish useful design indica-
tions, even if lying on the safe side, and to address the future devel-
opment of the research.
2. Experimental investigation
2.1. Materials test
In this study the investigated substrate was a natural stone
widely utilized in the South of Italy and called Lecce stone. The
3240 M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250
Lecce stone is calcareous in nature, characterized by high porosity,
easy workability, good aesthetic and satisfactory mechanical and
physical properties, even if highly dependent on the quarry loca-
tion. In particular, it is characterized by a sedimentary succession
of regularly stratied limestone, constituted by a ne-grained bio-
calcarenite, basically made of calcareous microfossils as foramini-
fers, in an abundant matrix of ne calcareous detritus, often
mixed with little particles of clay minerals. Silicatic minerals and
iron oxides are present in very little amount [39]. Lecce stone is
highly packed but poorly cemented, because of the low amount
of microcrystalline calcite, with cementing function, dispersed
within the matrix. As a result it shows widespread porosity and
small pore size, smaller of 5060 l [40]. In this paper, among the
different varieties of local stone, that extracted from the quarries
of Cursi (Lecce) was used.
As reinforcing system one layer of a commercial Carbon Fiber
Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheet was employed. That unidirec-
tional carbon sheet was applied at the substrate by the hand-layup
technique, using two different epoxy resins and by following the
suppliers indications. The rst resin is a preparatory coating (a
two part epoxy primer) able to ensure a better adhesion between
the reinforcement and the substrate. A layer of epoxy adhesive is
next applied before the carbon sheet; after nishing with a second
layer of epoxy adhesive a roller is used to remove air voids and al-
low better impregnation of the resin. Even though the curing time
suggested by the supplier for the resins was of about 714 days at
ambient temperature (23 C), a higher curing time was employed
(about 10 months), following the results of previous studies per-
formed on cold-curing epoxy resins used as adhesives and matrices
for composites [41,42]. An appropriate curing time is mostly
needed when the inuence of environmental or other aggressive
agents on the mechanical performances are addressed, in order to
guarantee the attainment of a stable systemand, allowing to sep-
arate and analyze the effects that can be totally attributed to the
performed treatments [38].Mechanical properties of materials have
been experimentally evaluated. The compressive strength of stones
has been determined by compression test on cubes of 71 mm high,
according to [43], while the exural strength has been evaluated by
three-points bending test on prisms of 20 mm 30 mm 120mm,
according to [44]. The Youngs modulus of stones has been deter-
mined by compression test on prisms of 50mm 50mm 200mm
[45]. It has been evaluated in terms of secant elastic modulus, be-
tween zero and 50% of the ultimate stress. The possible material
anisotropy has been also considered for mechanical characteriza-
tion; therefore the test were performed both on specimens loaded
in the direction perpendicular to the stratication layers (\) and
in that parallel to the stratication layers (//) of the limestone, refer-
ring to the evaluation of the exural strength and the elastic mod-
ulus. The effect of anisotropy on compressive strength has been
already investigated by authors [46] and its inuence resulted
almost negligible.
Cured samples of epoxy resins (primer and adhesive) were real-
ized in order to evaluate the effect of water on each component of
the strengthening/repairing system. Once identied eventual vul-
nerabilities of any component, their effects on the performance
of the whole system can be investigated. The tensile properties
(modulus of elasticity and tensile strength) of the primer and adhe-
sive resins were evaluated following the appropriate code [47] and
calculated by averaging the results of at least ve specimens. The
in-plane tensile properties of the CFRP (ultimate tensile strain
and modulus of elasticity) were evaluated on composites speci-
mens made by the wet lay-up technique [48]; results were referred
to the net area of the FRP system, namely the area of the bers
excluding that of the resin. The net area is typically used for wet
lay-up FRP systems, as suggested by available guidelines [5,7]. At
least ve specimens of composite were tested and the results
averaged.
In order to evaluate the effect of water on the mechanical prop-
erties of the materials under analysis, mechanical tests were per-
formed on specimens of composites, both epoxy resins and Lecce
stone at different time of immersion in water up to the saturation
condition.
For the two epoxy resins and the composite a proper standard
[49] was followed to evaluate the water absorption at different
times. However it is worth to evidence that a different procedure
with respect to that provided by the code was used to dry the spec-
imens before the immersion in water. It consisted of storing the
samples in a desiccator with silica gel at ambient temperature until
their weight reached a constant value. More details about the
experimental investigation regarding the reinforcement system
are reported in [38].
The content of water absorption was evaluated also for the Lecce
stone specimens; they were dried in an oven for 24 h at 105 5 C
and under vacuum conditions, thus immersed in distilled water, at
23 C 2 C. Specimens were periodically taken from water, wiped
with a dry cloth and weighed in order to calculate the percentage
of water absorption. The procedure stopped at a percentage differ-
ence in weight between two successive measurements of almost
0.1%.
The water absorption, for all the involved materials (resins, FRP
and stone) was expressed as the increase in weight percent, i.e.:
Percent Water Absorption
Wet weight Dry weight
Dry weight
100 1
The number of stone specimens tested under standard condi-
tions and left in water for different periods of time was at least ve.
2.2. Bond test
Bond tests have been assessed as a type of double lap shear test,
in which the reinforcing sheet has been bonded at two opposite
sides of the lecces ashlars, measuring 100 mm 100 mm
250 mm. The specimens have been inserted into a steel box xed
at the bottom crosshead of a 300 kN capacity universal testing ma-
chine. The free end portions of the sheet have been clamped at the
top crosshead by a special gripping device, able to transmit the ten-
sile load to the reinforcement via a steel pin, inserted thorough a
drilled hole in the composite sheets; premature damage in that re-
gion has been avoided providing an adequate bond of the sheets
within two steel plates. The tests have been carried out under dis-
placement control, with a displacement rate of 0.2 mm/min. The
test set-up (Fig. 1) and the test procedure have been specically as-
sessed and more details reported in previous papers [12,46,53]. The
stone specimens were reinforced with CFRP sheets providing a
bond length of 150 mm, while a 50 mm length of the sheet was left
unbonded in order to limit specimens imperfections [46]. Seven
electrical strain gauges have been glued on both sides of the speci-
mens in the load direction, corresponding to the bers direction of
the sheets (Fig. 2). Strain gages were also glued on the unbonded re-
gion to determine the tensile modulus of elasticity of the FRP
laminate.
The interface FRP-masonry has been analyzed in terms of dura-
bility after two different period of immersion in distilled water,
namely 8 and 25 weeks. Similar specimens tested in standard con-
ditions have been also analyzed for comparison. Two identical
specimens were tested for each analyzed case, as better specied
in Table 1. The aim of the present research work has been the
analysis of bond in extreme conditions under the effect of water,
M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250 3241
corresponding to the complete saturation of materials. The results
obtained in these conditions could allow to dene a upper bound
indication of bond degradation. In real applications the structures
are not completely immersed in water, however the water capil-
lary absorption, very common in old masonry structures, could
cause a saturation condition for some parts of the structures, as
that achieved for laboratory samples.
3. Result and discussion
3.1. Materials
Results obtained on resins and composites have been widely
presented and discussed in [38]; in the present paper a synthesis
of main results obtained from tensile tests is reported (Table 2).
In Table 2 it can be observed as the yield strength of the primer
showed a decrease of about 50%, after 24 weeks of immersion in
water, corresponding to the saturation time. The tensile modulus
decreased of about 50% with respect to the value in standard con-
dition, under the same treatment. In the adhesive, the tensile
strength decreased of 23% and 45%, after 60 days and 200 days of
immersion in water, respectively. The tensile modulus decreased
by about 60% after 200 days of immersion, while the decay was
of 36% after 60 days. Referring to the CFRP, both tensile strength
and tensile modulus remained almost constant. In fact, as reported
in [38], the presence of water has an insignicant effect on the ten-
sile mechanical properties of unidirectional composites, in the -
bers direction, mostly when made by a single ply.
Fig. 1. Test set-up.
Fig. 2. Details of the applied sheet and scheme of electrical strain gauges.
Table 1
Tested specimens.
Immersion
time (weeks)
Specimens label
0 10w
20w
8 18w
28w
25 125w
225w
3242 M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250
In Fig. 3, the value of water uptake for all types of the stone
specimens is reported as a function of the square root of immersion
time. The weight gain shown in the Fig. 3 is averaged on more than
80 specimens utilized for compression test and 160 specimens
realized for bending test. After the rst measures, performed after
24 h, the increment of the water uptake remains always limited
(almost 0.1% with respect to the initial measured increment),
therefore it can be argued that the most relevant amount of water
was absorbed during the rst day of immersion. A similar trend is
reported in [50], where the investigation concerned a type of cal-
carenite stone from a Spanish quarry. In that study the variation
of water adsorbed appears very low since few hours of immersion.
However after a prolonged time of investigation, a small amount of
water is still absorbed by the stones, as can be observed from
Fig. 3; this phenomenon can be justied by the presence of very
small pores which slowly saturate [51].
The stone properties were drastically affected by the aging pro-
cess. In fact the strength and the elastic modulus reduced up to 50%
(Table 3) with respect to those measured in standard conditions.
The main reason of the observed mechanical degradation can be
linked to the high stone porosity; in fact the water seeped into
the stone causes internal damage, due to the pressure of the liquid
within the pores. In particular the compression strength is almost
halved respect to that corresponding to the dry condition. Increas-
ing the days of immersion in water the variations of the mechani-
cal properties becomes irrelevant. The relevant reduction of the
mechanical performances for the utilized type of stone has been
found also in other studies, where the decrease of the uniaxial
compressive strength in presence of water is reported [52].
Analyzing the exural strength and the secant elastic modulus
obtained for all tested specimens it is evident as the behavior of
material can be considered isotropic in relation to these mechani-
cal property, as already found for compressive strength. In fact, the
scatters between specimens loaded in direction parallel and per-
pendicular to the stratication layers of the limestone are within
the experimental variation (see Table 3). As already observed refer-
ring to the compressive strength, a signicant reduction of the ex-
ural strength and of the secant elastic modulus was obtained after
aging in water, up to 47%. Comparing the decrease of exural
strength and of the secant elastic modulus at the different periods
of immersion in water, it appears almost constant, accordingly to
the result obtained for the compressive strength.
3.2. Bond
All test results are summarized in Table 4, where s
max
is the
bond strength; s
max
is the maximum bond stress; Fs
max
is the load
value corresponding to s
max
; l
e
is the optimal bond length.
The optimal bond length refers to the length of the sheet where
stresses are effectively transferred at the interface under service
condition, namely before the delamination process starts. The l
e
length is measured from the loaded end to the distance corre-
sponding to negligible strain values; its determination has been
Table 2
Tensile mechanical properties of the resins and the composite before and during their immersion in water (curing time = 45 weeks).
Immersion time Maximum strength, r
max
(MPa) Elastic Young modulus, E (GPa) Poisson coefcient, m
(weeks)

h
p

Primer 0 0 48.8 2.4 3.02 0.69 0.35 0.11
8 37 25.2 1.3 1.24 0.11 0.36 0.03
13 47 24.8 1.3 1.49 0.12 0.38 0.02
27 67 17.6 3.0 0.89 0.23 0.37 0.07
Adhesive 0 0 44.3 4.7 2.95 0.26 0.31 0.04
8 37 33.8 3.6 1.88 0.35 0.33 0.01
14 48 28.0 6.2 2.04 0.34 0.41 0.06
29 70 24.0 2.8 1.20 0.14 0.39 0.03
CFRP 0 0 2319
a
216 198.84 27.10
10 41 1879 711 306.45 113.00
14 48 1685 636 234.93 144.78
25 65 2034 539 221.74 20.83
29 70 1630 713 262.92 44.84
a
Curing time = 36 weeks.
Fig. 3. Moisture absorption curves of the compression and bending specimen.
Table 3
Mechanical properties of the stones (Lecces stone) after immersion in water; the
percentage reduction of the mechanical properties after the treatment is reported
within the parentheses.
Immersion time Compressive strength (MPa)
(weeks)

h
p

0 0 31 2
14 48 14 1 (54.8)
25 65 13 2 (57.4)
Secant elastic modulus (MPa)
// \
0 0 22,542 3102 18,144 1773
8 37 12,299 798(45.4) 9816 1017(45.9)
17 54 13,615 3615(39.6) 9850 1295(46.7)
Flexural strength (MPa)
// \
0 0 8.2 0.8 7.3 1.0
8 37 4.9 0.5 (40.1) 4.8 0.5 (34.6)
17 53 4.6 0.2 (44.0) 3.9 0.4 (47.0)
23 62 4.8 0.5 (42.1) 4.8 0.4 (34.2)
M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250 3243
performed here considering as negligible the strain values equal to
0.001 e
0
, being e
0
the strain of the unbounded sheet, and at load
levels less than 50% F
max
.
Whit regard to the maximum bond stress and the optimal bond
length, the corresponding average values registered on both the
applied sheets are reported in Table 4 for each specimen.
The ultimate load has been determined by halving the applied
load, in the hypothesis of symmetric behavior at the two opposite
sides of the specimen. For the unaged specimens the average value
for two identical specimens are reported.
Results reported in Table 4 show that the ultimate load, re-
corded in standard conditions, is higher than that corresponding
to aged specimens. The average decay of bond strength is of 23%
and 26% for specimens tested after 8 weeks and 25 weeks of
immersion in water, respectively; on the other hand its degrada-
tion seems to be independent on the immersion period, at least
referring to the performed analysis. This result appears basically
related to the decay of mechanical properties of the substrate, as
further conrmed in the following. In fact, for both aged and un-
aged specimens, the failure occurred by debonding of the FRP rein-
forcement from the substrate at the masonry face-level, with a thin
layer of calcarenite stone remaining attached to the delaminated
sheet (Fig. 4). Such kind of failure is expected when the tensile
strength of the adhesive at the interface is higher than that of
the substrate [11,46]. Analyzing the properties of materials ob-
tained in the present investigation and reported in Tables 2 and
3, it is evident as the mechanical performances of the substrate
is very much lower than those of the resins, although the relevant
decay of the strength and the elastic modulus registered after
immersion in water for both the primer and the adhesive.
With reference to the almost negligible decay of bond strength
observed between 8 weeks and 25 weeks of immersion in water it
can be justied by the similar trend observed for the decay of
materials properties.
A similar result is observed for the maximum bond stress and
the corresponding applied load. In fact, the average maximum
bond stress evaluated considering all aged specimens is
2.23 0.37, corresponding to an average load value of 5.11 0.49,
with a decrease of 22% with respect to the maximum bond stress
of control specimens.
On the other hand the interface stiffness seems unaffected by
the conditioning treatment, in agreement with results reported
in [24,25], in spite of the plasticization effect expected in the resin
[24,25,38]. In fact, the optimal bond length is almost the same for
aged and unaged specimens, the average value determined for all
specimens is 112 mm 11 mm (COV = 10%). Furthermore, compar-
ing the strain values measured along the sheet, at load levels below
60% of the ultimate load, for aged and unaged specimens, the scat-
ters appears negligible, conrming again the slight variability of
the stiffness under service condition. Typical strain paths are re-
ported in the Fig. 5, where the strains distribution is fairly expo-
nential regardless of the aging regime.
Specically in Fig. 5a and b the comparison between the strains
path along the reinforcing sheet recorded for unaged specimens
and specimens tested after 8 weeks and 25 weeks of immersion
in water, is drawn respectively: The load levels analyzed in the g-
ures correspond to 35% and 50% of the ultimate load.
In the Fig. 6, the strain values versus applied load are plotted at
different strain gauges (e
i
, i = 0 7) positions, for both aged and
unaged specimens. Results are reported for clarity referring to
the average value of those recorded at the two sides of each spec-
imen. The curves show that at low load level the stress is almost
completely transferred to a small length of the sheet, near the
loaded end; when the applied load increases and the de-bonding
at the loaded end starts, the optimal bond length is shifted along
the sheet. This occurrence is enough clear analyzing the curves re-
ported in the Fig. 6, where a sudden increase of strain is registered
at the delamination starting by strain gauges applied near the
loaded end; at the same time the strain values rise in other
positions, where an almost zero value of strain was maintained be-
fore the delamination starting.
In the Figs. 7 and 8 results obtained for specimens after immer-
sion in water are compared with those of specimens in standard
conditions. The mechanisms of stresses and strains transfer at
Table 4
Bond test results.
Names specimens F
max
(kN) s
max
(MPa) Fs
max
(kN) l
e
(mm)
0w 9.83 2.87 6.75 124
18w 7.67 2.72 5.61 96
28w 7.49 1.95 4.71 121
125w 7.10 1.95 5.03 110
225w 7.46 2.18 5.72 118
Fig. 4. Typical failure for both aged and unaged specimens.
3244 M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250
the interface are similar, as before explained. However the load
level corresponding to the debonding initiation (marked in the
Figs. 68) is lower for aged specimens. In addition a more fragile
behavior can be evidenced after the immersion in water, due to
the short extension of the non-linear stage. In fact, the load value
corresponding to the attainment of the maximum bond stress is
equal to 70% and 60% of the ultimate load for aged and unaged
specimens, respectively.In order to evaluate the slip at the inter-
face the strain values registered along the sheet are utilized. In par-
ticular, referring to a small length of the sheet, dx, and imposing
the strains compatibility the following relationship is obtained:
ds
dx
e
s
x e
b
x 2
where s is the slip between stone and reinforcement, e
s
the strain
value within the sheet, e
b
is the strain value within the stone block.
Neglecting the stone deformability and the slip value at the un-
loaded end of the sheet, the slip at the loaded end is evaluated as:
s
Z
L
0
e
s
xdx 3
Using strains measured at discrete points along the sheet, the
approximate slip value can be determined as follows:
s
P
i
e
s
i
Dx
i
4
being e
s
i
the recorded strain and Dx
i
the sheet length between two
contiguous strain gages.
The bond stresses distribution within the reinforcement have
been evaluated imposing the translational equilibrium condition
of the sheet length Dx:
sx t
s
E
s

e
s
i
e
s
i1
x
i1
x
i
5
where s(x) is the bond stress in position x measured from the
loaded end of the sheet, e
s
i
; e
s
i1
is the strain values in correspon-
dence of two contiguous strain gages; x
i
, x
i+1
is the position of two
contiguous strain gages measured from the loaded end of the sheet;
t
s
is the thickness of the sheet glued at the stones surface; E
s
is the
elastic modulus of the sheet, determined on the basis of strain
values registered on the unbonded sheet of the tested specimens,
as reported in more details in previous works [2,3,36,45].
In the Fig. 9 the average bond stressslip curves are drawn for
aged and unaged specimens. In the rst stage a linear trend can
be observed in all cases, up to the maximum bond stress is at-
tained. When analyzing the system stiffness G
a
/s (G
a
= shear mod-
ulus of adhesive, s = adhesive thickness) the difference between
aged and unaged specimens are negligible, as already discussed
above. On the other hand, a different behavior after the attainment
of the maximum bond stress can be observed; in fact, for speci-
mens left in standard conditions, a greater extension of the post-
peak curve is obtained with an ultimate slip value of about
0.12 mm, indeed almost 30% higher than that found for aged spec-
imens. This last result further conrms the more fragile failure of
the interface caused by the aging in water.
4. Design relationships
As well known, when strengthening stone blocks by FRP com-
posites, a premature mechanismof failure may occur by debonding
(loss of bond). The delamination, as for concrete substrate, may
take place within the adhesive, between stone and adhesive, with-
in the stone itself, or within the FRP reinforcement. [11]. When
Fig. 5. Strains values along the sheet at different load levels varying the time of immersion in water: (a) control specimens and specimens tested after 8 weeks of immersion
in water. (b) control specimens and specimens tested after 25 weeks of immersion in water.
M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250 3245
proper installation is performed, debonding is expected within the
substrate, because the adhesive strength is typically much higher
than the stone tensile strength. Therefore the sheet delaminates
removing a thin layer of the substrate, whose thickness may range
from few millimeters to more relevant stone portions [11].
Experimental bond tests, performed on masonry elements, show
that the bond capacity, namely the ultimate value of the force trans-
ferred from FRP reinforcement to the support prior debonding, de-
pends on the bond length, l
b
, growing with l
b
up to a maximum
bond length, l
e
. In fact a further increase of the bond length does
not involve a higher bonding force to be transferred. The length l
e
is the so called optimal bond length and corresponds to the min-
imal bond length able to carry out the maximum anchorage force.
In addition, the bond strength varies depending on the mechanical
properties of the stone and FRP [11]; therefore, a decay of the bond
capacity is expected while a mechanical degradation of the materi-
als occurs. Some available codes and guidelines [11,7] suggest the
introduction of environmental coefcients to take into account
the material degradation while evaluating the reinforcement
mechanical properties; however, these environmental coefcients
are not considered when determining the bond strength. In other
cases [5] the protection of the strengthened structural element is
only advised.
In order to evaluate the inuence of water immersion on bond
capacity, the relationships provided by the CNR-DT 200/2004 Bul-
letin [11] are calibrated on the basis of experimental results.When
Fig. 6. Strain values versus applied load at different strain gauges (e
i
, i = 0 7) positions: (a) specimens in standard conditions; (b) and (c) specimens tested after 8 weeks of
immersion in water. (d) and (e) specimens tested after 25 weeks of immersion in water.
3246 M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250
Fig. 6 (continued)
Fig. 7. Comparison between strains distribution of specimens immersed in water for 8 weeks and specimens left in standard condition: (a) specimen 18w and (b) specimen
28w.
M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250 3247
debonding involves the rst masonry layers and the bond length is
longer or equal to the optimal bond length, the maximum value of
the transferred force, F
max
, shall be expressed as follows [11]:
F
max
b
s

2t
s
E
s
C
F
p
6
where b
s
is width of the sheet glued at the stones surface and the
value, C
F
, of the specic fracture energy is given as:
C
F
c
1

f
m
f
mtm
p
7
where c
1
is an experimentally determined coefcient, f
m
is the aver-
age strength of calcareous stone, f
mtm
is the average tensile strength
of calcareous stone.
From Eq. (6) the specic fracture energy, C
F
, can be evaluated:
C
F

F
2
max
b
2
s
2t
s
E
s
8
Fig. 8. Comparison between strains distribution of specimens immersed in water for 25 weeks and specimens left in standard conditions: (a) specimen 125w and
(b) specimen 225w.
Fig. 9. Experimental bond stressslip curves at loaded ends for different specimens.
Table 5
c
1a
, c
1b
values.
Names specimens c
1a
c
1b
0w 0.017 0.017
18w 0.010 0.018
28w 0.010 0.017
125w 0.009 0.016
225w 0.009 0.017
3248 M.S. Sciolti et al. / Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 32393250
By using Eqs. (7) and (8) the c
1
value can be expressed as:
c
1

F
2
max
b
2
s
2ts Es

f
m
f
mtm
p 9
On the basis of experimental results two values of c
1
were cal-
ibrated. The former (c
1a
) was obtained introducing in Eq. (9) the
materials properties, referred to standard conditions while the sec-
ond coefcient (c
1b
) was calibrated by employing in Eq. (9) the
properties of aged materials. Obtained results are reported in Table
5.
From Table 5 it can be observed that the c
1b
coefcient is almost
constant and equal to 0.017 with a coefcient of variation of 6%,
while the c
1a
coefcient for aged specimens resulted 43% lower
than that evaluated for unaged ones. In standard condition, the
suggested value for c
1
is 0.015 [11]; therefore for design purposes
available relationships for the evaluation of bond strength seem
still effective when the interface substrate reinforcement is ex-
posed to the adverse effect of water, once the decay of the mechan-
ical properties of materials are taken into account. It also evident as
a signicant reduction of the c
1
(almost 40%) coefcient should be
introduced in the Eq. (7) when only the materials properties in
standard conditions are available, at least for the kind of substrate
and treatment investigated.
5. Conclusion
The bond behavior of calcareous stones strengthened by FRP
sheets was analyzed by a double lap shear test after aging in water;
the treatment in water was extended to each utilized material,
namely substrate, epoxy and composite. The mechanical behavior
of the substrate after the aging in water is presented and discussed
in this paper while the effects of the water on epoxy and composite
was detailed in a previous paper. The bond between the stone sub-
strate and the CFRP sheet has been investigated in terms of bond
strength, maximum bond stress, optimal bond length, strains path
at the interface and bond stressslip law. Some considerations
about the possible extension of available relationships to the bond
strength evaluation in presence of water have been also given.
On the basis of results obtained the following considerations
can be remarked:
The mechanical properties of the utilized natural stones are sig-
nicantly affected by the presence of water, with a reductions in
stiffness and strength of about 50%.
A decay of the maximum bond stress and of the bond strength
has been observed (up to 26%), as well as a more fragile bond
behavior in the case of conditioned specimens. In all cases the
debonding involved the rst masonry layers, due to the weak-
ness of the substrate with respect to the reinforcing system,
both in standard conditions and after the aging in water.
The optimal bond length resulted almost unaffected by the
aging in water, its value averaged on all specimens is
112 mm. Therefore the water seems to have little inuence on
the stiffness of the interface, as conrmed also through the
analysis of the strains path along the sheet during loading. In
fact, the strain values measured along the sheet, at load levels
below 60% of the ultimate load, for aged and unaged specimens,
were enough similar.
The bond stressslip curves have been evaluated for aged and
unaged specimens. In the rst stage an almost linear trend, up
to the maximum bond stress was attained in all cases; the dif-
ference between aged and unaged specimens resulted negligi-
ble in terms of initial stiffness, as already discussed above. On
the other hand a different behavior after the attainment of the
maximum bond stress has been observed; in fact for specimens
left in standard conditions a greater extension of the post-peak
curve was obtained.
The available relationship, provided by the Italian Technical
document [11] for evaluating the bond strength in standard
conditions, seems still effective in the case of aged specimens,
once the decay of the mechanical properties of the utilized
materials is considered. Otherwise an appropriate environmen-
tal coefcient should be added for taking into account the
reduction of the bond strength.
In conclusion, the obtained results clearly evidence the need of
an accurate evaluation of the bond behavior when adverse envi-
ronmental condition, as the presence of water/moisture, are fore-
seen during the service life of FRP strengthened masonry
structures. Even if further investigations are needed and interest-
ing, the performed research furnishes a rst contribute to the
understanding of the durability of bond in presence of water when
the substrate is made by calcareous natural stones. In addition a
short term analysis is suggested, namely after a period of immer-
sion in water for few hours, in order to accurately dene the satu-
ration period of the analyzed stone and the inuence of water on
bond behavior when the weakest component of the system (the
stone) is still unsaturated.
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