Assessing the Reliability of Single and Combined Diagnostic Tools for Testing the Mechanical Properties of Historic Masonry Structures

Balla, Brigitta and Orbán, Zoltán and Len, Adél (2019) Assessing the Reliability of Single and Combined Diagnostic Tools for Testing the Mechanical Properties of Historic Masonry Structures. POLLACK PERIODICA, 14 (3). pp. 31-42. ISSN 1788-1994 (print); 1788-3911 (online)

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Abstract

Diagnostics is an important and challenging task of the structural analysis and condition assessment of historic masonry structures. However the interpretation of the results of the measurements, especially for buildings made from brick and stone, is to be more subjective than that for concrete structures. Therefore improvement of the reliability of the used techniques and finding better correlations between the test results and the mechanical properties of masonry has proven to be of great importance. While several diagnostic procedures are commonly used in practice to test mechanical properties of masonry, e.g. Schmidt hammer test, analysis of drilled samples, penetration tests, etc. the results of these methods are considered reliable under laboratory conditions, several additional factors have to be taken into account in case of an in-situ application of these methods, that may largely affect the obtained results and conclusions. The results of the diagnostic procedures therefore need to be interpreted with a view to these environmental factors. The paper focuses on the practical use of several test methods for historic masonries via a real case study. The presented case study attempts to demonstrate benefits from the combined application of Pendulum Schmidt Hammer, moisture meter and scanning electron microscopy.

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