Keywords: lime-based mortars, repair mortars, cocciopesto, mechanical properties, masonry.

The conservation and repair of architectural heritage is becoming more of an issue as a result of numerous improper interventions and use of inappropriate repair materials. Just recently, it has been accepted that Portland cement mortars, extensively exploited in the past decades, are not suitable for restoration of ancient masonry structures because of their chemical, physical, mechanical, and aesthetic incompatibility with the original materials. Therefore, the engineers involved in protection of architectural heritage require mortars of a similar chemical composition and mechanical properties as the traditionally used ones. The present paper is focused on the performance of different mortars intended for repairs of historic structures, when subjected to mechanical loading. In particular, an integrated experimental-numerical approach was pursued to identify the key mortar parameters influencing the mechanical resistance of masonry piers loaded by a combination of compression and bending. Results from both, numerical modeling and experimental analysis, indicate that the use of metakaolin as a pozzolanic additive produces mortars with superior strength with a reasonable shrinkage, and their use makes masonry significantly more resistant to mechanical loading. Moreover, the mortar performance can be enhanced by an addition of crushed brick fragments, which explains the longevity of Roman mortars rich in pozzolans and fragments of crushed clay products, such as tiles, pottery or bricks.

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