Acquisition　of　vibration　data　using　off-the-shelf　equipment　is　a　costly　procedure,　thus　constraining　the　research　and　development　in　developing　countries.　In　this　research,　micro-electromechanical　systems　(MEMS)　accelerometers　combined　with　an　Arduino-based　data　acquisition　system,　were　used　to　acquire　vibration　data　of　a　reinforced　concrete　beam　at　various　damage　levels.　The　recorded　data,　having　lower　and　varying　sampling　frequency,　were　processed　to　find　the　fundamental　frequency　of　the　beam.　The　results　showed　good　agreement　with　the　commercially　available　accelerometers.　To　integrate　the　experimental　and　computational　work,　a　finite　element　model　was　developed　which　showed　good　agreement　with　the　experiment.　It　was　found　that　MEMS　accelerometers　are　cost-effective　and　can　be　effectively　employed　for　continuous　health　monitoring　of　existing　civil　infrastructure.　©　2022　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers