Experimental investigation of the sonic velocity in historical masonry walls

Abstract

The structural assessment of historical buildings poses a significant challenge for engineers. However, when it comes to historical structures, more commonly used and reliable destructive testing may not always be viable. Instead, non-destructive testing has gained prominence, encompassing techniques like the Schmidt hammer test, georadar, and sonic-based tests.In this paper, the viability of employing sonic testing on historical masonry structures was investigated. This study involves using the measured sonic velocities to identify voids and solid parts within masonry walls. In addition, the purpose is to determine the compressive strength of both mortar and brick constituents and to analyze the effects of moisture and compressive stress on the propagation velocity of waves.