Flexural strengthening of timber beams by CFRP laminates

In this contribution, experimental analyses for the validation of some strengthening techniques for historic timber floors using traditional and/or innovative materials (FRP, fibre reinforced polymer) are presented. The traditional proposed method consists in placing reinforcing planks above the existing floor beams and in fixing them with a ‘dry’ connection by means of hardwood dowels. The FRP strengthening was evaluated first as separate technique on timber beams and then in combination with the traditional jointed beams. The characterization of the connections between the materials (‘dry’ wooden dowels and FRP bond behaviour) and the flexural tests on simple and mechanically jointed beams with or without carbon FRP (CFRP) reinforcement are presented. The main execution phases of the strengthening techniques, and their limits and advantages, are described.