New materials and technologies in in architectural heritage restoration: masonry columns confinement using basalt fibres ropes

This paper deals with strengthening and consolidation of masonry columns, a long developed issue that also in the past interested restorers and designers in their works. A typical past solution for solving this kind of problem involves the use of a jacketing of the column by metal profiles. Nowadays strips of composite materials have been substituting these last ones but, when it is wanted to maintain the original aspect of the brickwork, this technique cannot be applied, so an experimental campaign about consolidation of masonry columns using a flexible element located in mortar joints has been developed. The results show the effective of this innovative technique in enhancing compressive strength of masonry columns without compromising their aesthetical appearance