Abstract

The paper introduces a health monitoring system based on MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) accelerometers. The used MEMS accelerometers were recently developed by one of the authors. They excel in cost efficiency, calibration accuracy and robustness. The health monitoring system was installed in two multi-tiered pagodas. They were a two-tiered pagoda, Pashupatinath temple and a five-tiered pagoda, Nyatapola temple for four months. Both pagodas are located in Nepal. In both cases, a number of earthquakes were captured by the installed accelerometers, as it permitted estimation of the fundamental mode of the tested pagodas. The paper deals with two tasks. The first task introduces the used MEMS accelerometers. The features of the accelerometers are discussed. The second task discusses the dynamic behaviour of the pagodas identified by the installed monitoring system. The paper presents adequacy of the developed MEMS accelerometers for health monitoring test of heritage structures.