Author(s)

C. Cuadra, N. Shimoi, T. Sasaki, T. Taguchi

Abstract

Applicability of a piezoelectric bolt-type sensor to detect or predict compression failure of masonry specimens is investigated in this paper. Originally, masonry specimens were constructed to investigate the influence of the type of bond on compression strength. Flemish bond style and English bond style were selected in the present study and 3 specimens for each bond style were constructed. Flemish bond style specimens show slightly lower strength in comparison to English bond style specimens. In 4 of these specimens, piezoelectric bolt-type sensors were installed and signal responses were observed at different stages of compression tests. It is believed that these responses correspond to different levels of cracking and the most important is the signal observed just before crushing since this response could be used for collapse prevention in case of actual structure.

Keywords

masonry, compression test, Young modulus, piezoelectric sensor