Using the Ultrasonic Tomography Method to Study the Condition of Wooden Beams from Historical Building

Abstract

The need to evaluate the integrity of wooden structural elements is constantly increasing. Non-destructive methods are becoming more popular in this field of research. One type of non-destructive testing is the ultrasonic imaging method, which allows the analysis of internal wood structures without disturbing their state and integrity. In this study, we are interested in assessing the effect of wood condition on the ultrasound time of flight (TOF). The research was carried out on wooden beams, which were obtained from a historical building. The images obtained from ultrasound tomography were compared with results of a visual inspection.Places of discontinuities, voids and cracks in wood caused a much lower velocity of wave propagation.The location of the wood core was illustrated by the places with the highest velocity. The article proved the validity of using ultrasonic tomography to assess the technical condition of historic wooden beams.

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References

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