Influence of freeze–thaw cycles on the pull-out response of lime-based TRM composites

Abstract

Textile reinforced mortars (TRMs) have emerged as a sustainable solution for strengthening existing masonry and concrete structures. As a result, many recent studies have focused on understanding the performance of these composites. However, most of these are aimed at investigating the mechanical properties of TRM composites. At the same time, their durability and long-term performance remain poorly addressed and unclear. This paper presents an experimental study on the effect of freeze–thaw environmental conditions on the micro-mechanical behavior of these composites. The results indicate that the freezing-thawing exposure conditions considered in this study do not have detrimental effects on the mortar strength. However, the fiber-to-mortar bond behavior can deteriorate because the deterioration level depends on the fiber type, embedded length, and fiber configuration.