Determination of Water Content in Brick Masonry Walls using a Dielectric Probe

A dielectric probe developed to measure the water content in homogeneous soils was adapted to monitor water content in brick masonry walls and was able to determine moisture distribution in bricks and joints. The influence of cavities along the probe was tested in the laboratory. A 1 mm air gap close to the access tube reduced the reading by 25%, making it crucial to drill holes of the correct diameter. The water content in a brick masonry wall of an old warehouse in Copenhagen was monitored for five years following the installation of a chemical damp-proof course at the base of the wall to reduce capillary water uptake due to rising damp. Only a slight change in the water content was observed after four years. Salt contamination at the surface possibly reduced the rate of evaporation. There is a need for long-term monitoring of the effect of chemical injection.

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