Structure – brick walls　（Piezoelectric limit sensor）

　　Reinforced masonry structures occasionally became unstable because of deterioration and because of the effects of strong earthquakes. This research examined a novel piezoelectric vibration sensor prototype for use in a monitoring system. It easily evaluates the integrity of reinforced masonry structures quantitatively and easily based on displacement measurements. Vast numbers of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures around the world have not been designed for seismic loads. The structural walls of these buildings were designed primarily to resist gravity loads.

 

Piezoelectric limit sensor

 

Sensor unit location. Using a compression testing machine, we conducted compression measurements using a Pi-shaped displacement transducer (Pi gauge), taking distortion measurements while using a distortion gauge, load-compressive loads were measured and were mutually compared until specimens failed.

 

Masonry specimens after compression testing. We measured and compared compressive stress and average strain effects on an English brick pattern specimen and a Flemish brick pattern specimen.