Nondestructive Quality Control of Reinforced Masonry Buildings
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 18, Issue 1
Abstract
In the framework of the DISWall research project, funded by the European Commission, the authors have been working on the development of quality-assessment procedures for modern reinforced masonry buildings based on nondestructive testing methods. Two specific types of reinforced masonry systems were considered, both based on concentrated vertical reinforcements and on the use of perforated clay units. This contribution focuses on results obtained by radar and sonic techniques. They were applied in the laboratory on two masonry specimens, which were built with known defects. Tests were also carried out on-site, on real walls of a selected case study. On the basis of the results of these experiments, a fully nondestructive quality-control procedure appears feasible and promising. The data can be collected and analyzed in real time with an automatic classification algorithm. The procedure requires the use of a high-frequency GPR (ground-penetrating radar) system. Depending on the type of masonry system, sonic test equipment might also be required to investigate some specific problems that cannot be diagnosed by the GPR. Feedback from the building sector is now essential to understand the interest in and the potential market for this nondestructive testing application. As a result, new investments could be planned to perform the further testing activities that are needed to standardize the procedure.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to IDS S.p.A., which supplied the Aladdin equipment for georadar experiments. The tests were carried out in the framework of DISWall: UNSPECIFIEDCOOP-CT-2005-018120: “Developing Innovative Systems for Reinforced Masonry Walls.” The partners of the research projects involved in the production of the described masonry system are Laterizi Alan Metauro s.r.l., Cisedil s.r.l., and Tassullo S.p.A. (Italy), and Bekaert SA/NV (Belgium).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 18 • Issue 1 • March 2012
Pages: 34 - 46
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 28, 2010
Accepted: Feb 17, 2011
Published online: Feb 19, 2011
Published in print: Mar 1, 2012
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