Comparative testing for improved diagnosis of historic structures

Historic constructions constitute an important part of the heritage in terms of numbers and values but they are prone to rapid deterioration and decay if abandoned or if their materials and structure are not properly handled and protected from the environment. Because of their complexity and peculiar construction characteristics, their evaluation and assessment are demanding tasks with serious economic implications and requiring deep expertise. A comprehensive investigation approach is still lacking in actual practice and needs to identify characteristics and problems by appropriate methodologies, evaluating the decay present and understanding the structural behaviour. The research here presented has set up an experimental programme conducted first by laboratory calibration of techniques and procedures, while later the various test sites present different environmentally driven problems. It is aimed at studying the role of single and combined factors and their synergies, and comparing information from lab analyses on samples and from mechanical tests or acquired via NDT (IR thermography, Acoustic Emission, sonic and ultrasonic methods, impact-echo, radar, wood drilling penetration resistance, etc.) with those from wireless monitoring systems which are today reliable and aesthetically minimally invasive.