Automated damage detection in masonry structures using cointegrated strain measurements from smart bricks: Application to a full-scale building model subjected to foundation settlements under changing environmental conditions

This paper investigates using smart bricks, a new class of sensors for SHM of masonry structures, to monitor strain and detect damage in a full-scale masonry building subjected to differential foundation settlement under real environmental conditions. Daily fluctuations in air temperature and humidity induce apparent changes in smart bricks’ strains that can mask variations due to damage development. A new methodology, based on cointegration theory, is proposed to remove environmental effects from smart bricks’ outputs, thus enabling automated damage detection. The approach consists of training and observation phases alternating with consecutive 24-h periods for novelty detection purposes. The results from applying the damage detection procedure on the case study structure are validated by comparing strains by smart bricks with the outputs from other sensing technologies and numerical simulations. The potential of smart bricks in advancing SHM of masonry structures is demonstrated for the first time in a real SHM application. •Smart bricks enable distributed strain monitoring in masonry structures.•Environmental effects induce apparent changes in smart bricks’ strain measurements.•A new cointegration-based SHM strategy is proposed for automated damage detection.•A masonry structure equipped with smart bricks is tested under progressive damage.•Numerical simulations confirm damage-induced changes in smart bricks’ outputs.