Comparison of Non-Destructive and Semi-Destructive Methods for the Post-Earthquake Assessment of Existing Masonry

Abstract

After a long period of inactivity, strong seismic events occurred in Croatia. Due to the extensive damage caused by the recent earthquakes, a significant phase of reconstruction and strengthening follows. Determining the actual seismic behavior of existing masonry structures is of great importance for future management and the economical and purposeful strengthening of the load-bearing structure. Modern software solutions and design methods are an essential part of the assessment, but they are only as useful as long as the input parameters are reliable. This is where in-situ test methods come into play, providing useful information about the mechanical properties of the structure. In the paper, the flat-jack method and sonic pulse velocity method are described in more detail and the results of certain tests are presented and compared.