rinforzamento

Rinforzamento is the process of increasing the strength, stiffness, or stability of a structure, component, or material by adding or upgrading elements or by changing materials. It is used in civil engineering, architecture, and materials science to improve safety, serviceability, and durability, especially in response to aging, damage, new loads, or updated design codes, with particular emphasis in seismic regions.

Common approaches to rinforzamento include external reinforcement, such as adding steel bracing, steel or fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets around members, or external post-tensioning; internal reinforcement, such as steel plates, concrete jackets, or reinforcing elements within masonry; and selective element replacement or strengthening of weak components. Material upgrades, including FRP composites, high-performance concrete, or upgraded steel sections, are also employed. Specific techniques for masonry structures include stitching or tying walls, epoxy injections, grout fills, and the installation of anchors or ties to improve lateral strength and continuity.

The reinforcement process typically follows assessment and diagnosis, structural analysis, and design, followed by installation, quality control, and monitoring. Compatibility between old and new materials, long-term durability, and avoidance of adverse effects such as added mass, corrosion, or deterioration are important considerations. Aesthetics, existing constraints, cost, downtime, and maintenance requirements also influence selection of methods.

Applications span bridges, buildings, and historic or heritage structures, where rinforzamento aims to restore capacity, meet code requirements, extend service life, and enhance resilience to environmental and seismic loads. In heritage conservation, methods are chosen to minimize visual impact while preserving structural integrity.