Nondestructive testing and damage assessment of masonry structures

Recent advances in nondestructive testing technology have led to mainstream use of several methods for evaluating masonry construction. Nondestructive approaches such as rebound hardness, stress wave transmission, impact-echo, surface penetrating radar, tomographic imaging, and infrared thermography are useful for qualitative condition surveys as well as identification of internal features such as voids or areas of distress. In situ test methods are also available for determination of engineering properties. Flatjack methods are used to measure the state of compressive stress and compression response, masonry bed joint shear stress may be evaluated by an in situ shear test, and mortar unit bond strength is tested by an adaptation of the bond wrench approach. Standardized methods exist for many of the evaluation approaches and related efforts are ongoing within ASTM and RILEM.

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