Methodology for inspection of wood pathologies using ultrasonic pulse

Abstract

Awareness has been on the rise on the part of society about the importance of wooden structures, in particular historic buildings. This concern is reflected in continued maintenance of historic heritage and has been increasingly leading professionals working in the field of wooden structures to seek improved techniques for inspection of such structures. Methods involving nondestructive testing (NDT) are the most recommended for inspection, as they do not affect the relevant architecture and thus help maintain the integrity and originality of the building. Among the various existing NDT methods, a widespread and promising option is the ultrasound technique. This work introduces a methodology for inspection of wooden structural elements using ultrasonic pulses. The methodology was applied to a glued laminated timber beam with signs of decay on its interior. Ultrasound results helped map the damaged areas of the beam on a plane by using isochromatic patterns. The contribution of this work is a methodology to help investigate wood pathologies which, in combination with other complementary techniques, will allow more accurate and reliable evaluations of wooden structures, avoiding unnecessary replacement of sound structural elements mistakenly presumed to be damaged, or else ensuring maintenance of extremely deteriorated elements that would otherwise compromise the overall stability of the structure.