An experimental fixture for continuous monitoring of electrical effects in moist masonry walls

A purposely designed experimental fixture for simultaneous and reliable monitoring of moisture, salts and spontaneous electrical polarization in masonry walls is proposed, based on the combined use of permanent sampling points and electrodes. Two fixtures were set up in laboratory with two different commercially available masonry bricks, in order to investigate the physical–chemical effects of capillary water rise as a function of the main bricks features (microstructure and salts nature and content).The research is aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the electrical effects in moist masonry walls, in order to possibly set up a reliable and scarcely invasive on-site monitoring procedure to be used in ancient building walls affected by rising damp, to lead restoration works to higher awareness.

Research highlights
► Experimental fixtures for simultaneous monitoring of moisture, salts and voltage.
► Electrical effects related to rising moisture and salts in masonry are measured.
► Spontaneous electrical potentials in moist masonry walls are determined.
► Reliable, consistent and comparable data are provided.
► Hints for on-site testing procedure are outlined.