RESONANCE MONITORING OF BUILDING ASSEMBLIES FOR DURABILITY TESTS

Resonance monitoring is an established method for detecting deteriorat ion in materials in accelerated aging tests. Current ASTM practice mon itors a single resonance. If more than one resonance is monitored it b ecomes possible to distinguish localized deterioration from general de terioration, to identify the specific locations of deterioration, and to recognize anticipated deterioration events. Data on location of det erioration is important in durability tests for assemblies where a dis tinction between materials failures and failures due to stress concent ration is needed. Relations for the interpretation of changes in reson ance as location of deterioration are developed A laboratory study of condition monitoring by resonance in fatigue loading of a welded steel frame is reviewed. A potential application for resonance monitoring i n building assemblies is outlined.