Composite Reinforced Mortar (CRM) systems consist of bi-dimensional grids made of glass fibers embedded in a mortar matrix with a significant thickness (30-50mm). In recent years, CRM were applied as externally bonded reinforcement of existing masonry walls. In research field, several experimental tests campaigns have been carried out using diagonal-compression configurations, showing improvements of ultimate load and deformations capacities of panels. However, limited research is still available regarding both the in-plane effectiveness of the reinforcement in terms of ductility, stiffness and hysteretic behavior, both in terms of uniaxial compression, influenced by CRM due to its significant thickness.

In this work, an experimental campaign was conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the reinforcement system and to analyze its effect on global response of brick masonry panels. First, a mechanical characterization of CRM components was carried out, by means of tensile tests on bare yarns, clamping grid tests on CRM coupons, shear tests of grid joints and single-lap shear bond tests. Subsequently, the effectiveness of the reinforcement on masonry panels was investigated through uniaxial compression and shear-compression tests. Regarding compressive test, eight samples consisting of solid brick masonry walls with dimensions 250x120x1200 mm (width x thickness x height) were built and tested by increasing the axial load. Moreover, quasi-static cyclic shear-compression tests on six brick masonry panels with dimensions of 1000x250x1250 mm were carried out, considering a prescribed axial load equal to 350kN and increasing the horizontal displacements by means of mechanical actuators.  For both the load cases analyzed, panels were tested in unreinforced, one-side reinforced and two-sides reinforced configurations.

The paper presents the main results of the experimental campaign, showing the effectiveness of CRM for uniaxial compression loads and for in-plane shear loads. The different response of panels reinforced on both faces and on just one face was pointed out.