Summary A practical view is provided on the integration of electronic instrumentation, data acquisition, and software development systems applied to the analysis of pathological structural processes. This system will enable researchers to remotely monitor constructions; compile a register of historical data, creating files for postprocessing; and establish computer‐based protocols for evaluation of information, defining automatic alarms when the monitored data exceed preset limit values. This integration is based on the implementation of a remote terminal unit architecture in an industrial PC along with some other elements, namely, the following: suitable data acquisition cards for the type of sensors used, which continuously collect the data the sensors gather; the installation of an application server that periodically communicates with the system, extracting data while guaranteeing persistence; and finally, a web server, which provides remote access to both the data themselves and the system configuration, using a client application developed in JavaFX, a platform for developing rich Internet applications. As an example of the integration, the architecture of a system deployed in a Church in Comillas, Spain, is shown. The work carried out related to the register of existing damage is reported in order to explain the choice of the zones for deployment of the monitoring devices as well as the tasks involved in the installation of the sensors and other devices. Finally, the evolution is presented of the measurements taken during more than 1.5 years of monitoring, as well as their validation through comparison with those obtained by discrete in situ measurement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Summary In this study, an integrated structural health monitoring system was developed and applied to a masonry heritage building under rehabilitation, where diverse structural changes were made. The late 19th century building had over the years undergone significant deterioration, which brought about the appearance of serious pathological processes affecting the building's stability. In 2012, concerns over the severe cracking phenomena affecting the structure prompted the decision to monitor the structure and to undertake strengthening interventions. A global structural monitoring system was applied to the church to identify the occurrence of possible damage mechanisms and monitoring the intervention processes. The monitoring system was based on the integration of subsystems, which were implemented as and when necessary. Traditional sensors consisting of crackmeters, servo‐inclinometers, cable extension sensors, displacement transducers, wind vanes, and temperature sensors (thermo‐hygrometer and thermocouples) were installed on the building. Moreover, novel measuring approaches using stress sensors and pressure cells were used. Furthermore, manual monitoring elements were installed, which provided measurements for contrasting with those of the continuous sensors, as well as a greater number of monitoring points. Thus, the structural response was measured using 67 monitoring elements. The long‐term (5 years) monitoring results indicated that the interventions were carried out without the occurrence of any irregularity. A good relation was confirmed between the manual and continuous measurements. Moreover, the results have shown the capability of the proposed integrated system to evaluate the structural behaviour during all the phases of the interventions.

Summary The need to obtain the mechanical characteristics for analysis and understanding of the mechanical behaviour of historic buildings is highlighted. Destructive tests and non‐destructive tests are widely used for this purpose; however, they only provide a value associated with a specific instant. Structural health monitoring contributes to the monitoring of specific processes before, during, or after an intervention. Nevertheless, among the available sensors, there is a lack of devices for continuous monitoring of stress variations undergone by masonry structures. In response to this need, a new stress‐measurement device for structural monitoring of masonry structures has been developed. It has the aim of determining the initial stress in masonry structural element and providing continuous control of the evolution of the stress variation. The article describes the design of the device, as well as its implementation in a historic building. Moreover, an assessment is performed of the stress variations registered in comparison with the displacements recorded in the monitored areas, as well as the influence of the thermic fluctuations on these. A good relation was confirmed between these measurements. The results demonstrate that the designed device proved to be a useful tool for monitoring structural strengthening interventions.

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The rehabilitation of old buildings requires detailed knowledge of the mechanical characteristics and stress state of the structural elements, which play an important role in the intervention process. In this sense, non-slightly destructive tests can estimate structural characteristics with good precision at relatively low costs. Consequently, this article presents a device, based on the flat jack technique, applied to continuous stress monitoring over time. It also focuses on the onsite determination of service stresses and its continuous monitoring in several masonry buttresses of a historic building, as well as the assessment of the structural safety before, during, and after an intervention process. A brief analysis of the research is performed, and the motivation and the methodology adopted are described. Finally, the evolution of the measurements recorded and the analysis of the results achieved are detailed. The study enabled recommendations to be made to the intervening agents that guarantee structural safety.

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