Remote Field Monitoring of Thermal and Moisture Deformations in Masonry Cavity Wall Building Envelopes
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29, Issue 3
Abstract
A clock tower in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, was outfitted with a remote monitoring system to record the vertical deformations of its masonry cavity wall enclosures due to temperature and moisture changes. Monitoring the deformations of masonry wall enclosures is a unique application that is expected to provide new information on the causes of distress of brick veneers, which has traditionally been attributed to excessive expansion of the brick. Preliminary observations for clay brick veneer masonry suggest that reversible moisture-related strains could be significant and that radiation-induced temperature spikes could be much higher than what is accounted for by current design standards and codes. Most observed reversible moisture-induced strains were within the limits prescribed in the Canadian masonry standard and the national building code of Canada.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in collaboration with Read Jones Christoffersen (RJC). The city of St. Albert granted unlimited access to the tower. The authors acknowledge the contributions of G. Miller and C. West, Structural Laboratory technicians at the University of Alberta.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29 • Issue 3 • June 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 13, 2013
Accepted: Nov 19, 2013
Published online: Aug 8, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 8, 2015
Published in print: Jun 1, 2015
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