No-contact micro-geophysical measurements to study wall structure
by
G. Ranieri
Dipartimento di Ingegneria del Territorio- Universita' di Cagliari
Coauthors: R. Deiana

Masonry walls, especially those of historic buildings are often difficult to investigate. The current approach consists in analysing small portions of the structure. The techniques employed are often invasive and in any case are not able to provide a complete picture of the variety of problems to be solved, which may range from the hardly trivial presence of humidity and hence degradation to the far more serious problems of stability of the entire structure. The aim of this work is to test the effectiveness and implementability, also in economic terms, of physical and microgeophysical methods suitable for assessing the internal conditions of masonry, in terms of both stability and decay. This kind of information might be useful for both structural and architectonic conservation. A physical model have been designed for this purpose, which mimic real conditions. A number of anomalous elements were introduced in this model (wood, iron, cavities, etc.), to simulate the heterogeneity of the structure. Planned measurements include: radar tomography, radar profiling with bistatic and multifold surveys, TDEM surveys, dynamic thermography and thermal tomography.The results have been compared to those of micro-geophysical contact methods.

Date received: September 17, 2004

Copyright © 2004 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # caon-57.