Skip to main content
Mobile
  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations
HS Talks HS Talks
Subjects  
Search
  • Notifications
    Notifications

    No current notifications.

  • User
    Welcome Guest
    You have Limited Access The Business & Management Collection
    Login
    Get Assistance
    Login
    Forgot your password?
    Login via your organisation
    Login via Organisation
    Get Assistance
Finance, Accounting & Economics
Global Business Management
Management, Leadership & Organisation
Marketing & Sales
Strategy
Technology & Operations
You currently don't have access to this journal. Request access now.
Practice paper

Innovative non-invasive assessment of structures

Jon Avent
Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation, 8 (4), 290-303 (2020)
https://doi.org/10.69554/YXCA1595

Abstract

This paper provides details for a new and innovative methodology for the understanding, appraisal and testing of existing building structures. Assessment of structures requires knowledge and experience, combined with a practical understanding of how structures work. When existing structures need to be inspected and assessed, the structural engineer or building surveyor is often expected to have X-ray eyes. Lacking such a gift, and despite what clients may assume, they draw instead on knowledge and experience to make value judgments in many situations, with appropriate margins of safety and consideration of appropriate risk incorporated along the way. Codes of practice and British Standards provide a useful reference to assist with this process, but often sound judgment needs to underpin decisions made. This paper introduces the technique of non-invasive dynamic testing for assessing existing structures and provides examples of its use. The technique can be used on a range of applications to provide an understanding of how existing structures are actually behaving, rather than using more traditional conservative assessments that rely on a range of assumptions made on material properties, member interaction and support conditions. As a non-invasive option to traditional appraisal techniques it has wide ranging benefits in the heritage sector, but additionally provides significant economic benefits compared to existing solutions.

Keywords: assessment of structures; value judgments; margins of safety; consideration of risk; non-invasive dynamic testing; traditional assessments

The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.

Already a subscriber? Login or review other options.

Author's Biography

Jon Avent is a chartered structural engineer, accredited conservation engineer with over 25 years’ experience of heritage structures across the UK. This includes many Grade 1 properties and scheduled monuments, for clients including Historic England, DfC-HED (Ireland), the National Trust, Cadw in Wales, local authorities, Building Preservation Trusts and private clients. Jon is a former chair of CARE (the ICE, IStructE and Engineers Ireland Conservation Accreditation Register) and is on the National Trust’s specialist advisory panel.

Citation

Avent, Jon (2020, March 1). Innovative non-invasive assessment of structures. In the Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation, Volume 8, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/YXCA1595.

Options

  • Download PDF
  • Share this page
    Share This Article
    Messaging
    • Outlook
    • Gmail
    • Yahoo!
    • WhatsApp
    Social
    • Facebook
    • X
    • LinkedIn
    • VKontakte
    Permalink
cover image, Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation
Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation
Volume 8 / Issue 4
© Henry Stewart
Publications LLP

The Business & Management Collection

  • ISSN: 2059-7177
  • Contact Us
  • Request Free Trial
  • Recommend to Your Librarian
  • Subscription Information
  • Match Content
  • Share This Collection
  • Embed Options
  • View Quick Start Guide
  • Accessibility

Categories

  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations

Librarian Information

  • General Information
  • MARC Records
  • Discovery Services
  • Onsite & Offsite Access
  • Federated (Shibboleth) Access
  • Usage Statistics
  • Promotional Materials
  • Testimonials

About Us

  • About HSTalks
  • Editors
  • Contact Information
  • About the Journals

HSTalks Home

Follow Us On:

HS Talks
  • Site Requirements
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
© Copyright Henry Stewart Talks Ltd

Personal Account Required

To use this function, you need to be signed in with a personal account.

If you already have a personal account, please login here.

Otherwise you may sign up now for a personal account.

HS Talks

Cookies and Privacy

We use cookies, and similar tools, to improve the way this site functions, to track browsing patterns and enable marketing. For more information read our cookie policy and privacy policy.

Cookie Settings

How Cookies Are Used

Cookies are of the following types:

  • Essential to make the site function.
  • Used to analyse and improve visitor experience.

For more information see our Cookie Policy.

Some types of cookies can be disabled by you but doing so may adversely affect functionality. Please see below:

(always on)

If you block these cookies or set alerts in your browser parts of the website will not work.

Cookies that provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. If not allowed functionality may be impaired.

Cookies that count and track visits and on website activity enabling us to organise the website to optimise the experience of users. They may be blocked without immediate adverse effect.