Experimental shear tests on tuff blocks triplets with hemp fibres reinforced lime mortar

This paper deals with experimental shear tests carried out on triplet samples made of tuff masonry blocks joined by lime mortars without and with hemp fibres. The experimental campaign has been performed at the laboratory of the Architecture Faculty of the University of Naples "Federico II". Three samples manufactured with hemp fibres, having a percentage of 1% with respect to the mortar weight, have been tested and their behaviour has been compared to that of the triplet made of the simple lime mortars linking tuff blocks. The comparison has been done in terms of both force-displacement and shear stress-deformation angle curves. In addition, the failure modes of fibre-reinforced mortar specimens have been individuated. The performance increase deriving from the use of hemp fibres in lime mortar has been evaluated through the increment of shear stress (force), drift angle (displacement) and shear modulus. The achieved results have proved the effectiveness of hemp fibres in manufacturing reinforced lime mortars able to join together top sustainable features with high mechanical characteristi.