DEVELOPMENT OF A FLEXIBLE FLATJACK FOR QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF MASONRY

RESEARCH TO DEVELOP A FLEXIBLE FLATJACK FOR THE QUANTITATIVENONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF MASONRY IS PROPOSED. A FLATJACK IS A HYDRAULICLY PRESSURED BLADDER EMPLOYED TO MEASURE IN-SITU STRESS AND MODULUS. THE RESEARCH WILL REQUIRE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY TO OBTAIN THE DESIRED OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLATJACK. SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLEXIBLE FLATJACK WILL OVERCOME SEVERAL OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED USING CONVENTIONAL FLATJACKS IN MASONRY LEADING TO APPLICATIONS INPREVIOUSLY UNTESTABLE MATERIALS AND INCREASED ACCURACY. A FLEXIBLE FLATJACK WILL ALSO AVOID EXTRACTION DIFFICULTIES PRESENTLY ENCOUNTERED. THE PROPOSED WORK WILL COMBINE USE OF MODERN POLYMER MATERIALS, FIBER REINFORCEMENTS AND INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURINGTECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP THE FLEXIBLE FLATJACK. PROTOTYPE FLATJACKS WILL BE EVALUATED IN MASONRY TEST WALLS UNDER KNOWN IN-SITU STRESS CONDITIONS TO DETERMINE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.