Prototype of a diagnostic decision support tool for structural damage in masonry

Abstract

This prototype of a diagnostic decision support tool for structural damage in traditional masonry is the result of a PhD research project. The research project has aimed to improve and facilitate the diagnostic process by offering support in the initial phase in which hypotheses are generated. The more precise hypotheses are formulated, and the more accurate they are classified, the more effective the further process of verification will be and the greater the probability that the final diagnosis is correct. Based on an extensive literature review of over 500 cases of structural damage, 60 characteristic damage patterns have been identified. For each of these damage patterns, possible causes have been listed. Essential context conditions (in terms of material, geometry, environment and time) allow one to discriminate between these hypotheses. A decision tree helps users determine which of the 60 damage patterns most closely matches the damage they are investigating. All further information on hypotheses and conditions is provided tailored to the selected pattern. For settlement-related damage processes, a separate part gives more details on underlying causes and essential conditions. For more background information on the development of this tool and on the terms used in it, the reader is referred to the PhD thesis ‘Structural damage in masonry: Developing diagnostic decision support’ (ISBN: 978-90-8570-759-2). Under: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ced08aa2-c2e8-4aa8-9559-870bf12d5ba5