The STRETCH project aims to develop a hybrid structural-plus-energy retrofit with structural health monitoring tailored for masonry cultural heritage building envelopes. The innovative multifunctional system integrates textile-reinforced mortar with thermal insulation materials and strain/temperature fibre optic sensors. The proposed system can be instrumental in assessing and preserving cultural heritage buildings.
Using a lime-based and cement-free mortar matrix to design the textile-reinforced mortar will ensure strengthening while respecting the compatibility with the physical and mechanical characteristics of historic masonry. Fibre optic sensors integrated into the textile and embedded into the textile-reinforced mortar composites will provide distributed strain/temperature measurement.
Besides traditional thermal insulation materials (e.g. EPS insulation boards), the adoption of innovative solutions such as capillary tubes inserted in the textile reinforcement will also be investigated as a valid alternative to improve the energy efficiency of the envelope (this functionality is explored under the international project Development of Textile-reinforced mortar & Capillary tube Panel retrofitting technology to simultaneously improve Seismic and Energy Performance of the existing buildings (SEP+)).
