Author
BINDA, L.; CARDANI, G.; CANTINI, L.; TIRABOSCHI, C.
Department of Structural Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Abstract
Floods often occur in Italy and inundate masonry buildings. To examine the effect of floodwater on masonry, existing test walls subjected to decay caused by the crystallisation of sodium sulphate solution rising from foundations under the walls were utilised.
Within the frame of the CHEF Contract a research program was developed on the studied walls. A flood was simulated by adding water to the full-scale salt contaminated model walls for a period of several days.
The aim was to evaluate with ND techniques the evolution of the decay after the introduction of uncontaminated new water, simulating a flood. Radar, thermography, sonic tests as well as drilling tests were applied to evaluate the moisture distribution in the masonry, after flooding and after natural drying both on treated and non treated walls.

Key words
masonry, flood, NDTs, moisture distribution, drying rate