Experimental investigation of the behaviour of beam and block slabs retrofitted with lightweight concrete topping

One of the main issues found in the current Italian construction activities is the recovery of existing buildings, which nowadays is still extremely delicate and complex. The current trend in the construction market shows how the attention is geared towards the interventions of consolidation, both for economic reasons and for the necessity of a more efficient use of the resources. The interventions of consolidation should have, as a primary issue, to efficiently increase the performance of the buildings from a structural safety point of view, for example with reference to seismic actions. This can be accomplished by means of a careful analysis of the needs and performance and a complete diagnosis of the existing constraints and state of work, to ensure the requirements, priorities and objectives of the project. Different approaches may be adopted with different technical solutions and with the use of reliable and durable materials as well as compatible with the existing building object of the interventions of restructuration. In this experimental work an investigation will be carried out about the efficiency of a “cooperating topping slab”, consolidation technique for floor slabs. It consists of the realization of a new cooperating slab, herein made of lightweight concrete, connected with the existing slab by the use of a two-component epoxy adhesive (connector "Centro Storico Chimico" by Leca system). The purpose of this investigation is to verify the improvement of the mechanical performance of floor slabs, through loading tests on consolidated and non – consolidated mock-ups. The most significant aspects of the experimentally investigated structure will also be analysed in a design – oriented perspective.