Laboratory validation of the hole-drilling technique on the most common load-bearing walls used in heritage constructions

The article describes the application of hole-drilling in diverse constructive types, detailing the results achieved in calibration tests carried out on several laboratory-built walls. The theoretical stress levels were approximated very closely in the case of ashlar (0.96) and rammed earth (0.91), but less closely in the brick wall (0.61). The technique did not prove useful with rubble-stone walls, although the cause of the discordance was not related to the methodology employed. Additionally, a comparison was established among hole-drilling tests carried out with different deformation recording techniques.