DocumeNDT · Characterization, documentation and virtualization of the cultural masonry heritage using wave propagation Non-Destructive Techniques

Characterization, documentation and virtualization of the cultural masonry heritage using wave propagation Non-Destructive Techniques

Preservation of heritage buildings requires deep knowledge of architectural and archaeological masonry heritage. The EU-funded DocumeNDT project focused on developing a new methodology to characterize and document the masonry built heritage. The research motivation is that detailed information about the heritage masonry structures is essential for conservation purposes and for making informed decisions on how to intervene. To accomplish the overall research objective, the project has developed new systems and methods to inspect the interior of historical masonry walls. The inspection of heritage structures is further limited due to the need to follow a non-invasive approach that does not harm the valuable fabric of masonry heritage. The system proposed is based on a fully non-destructive technique called tomography, which is an imaging technique that can produce images of the cross-section of an object based on the transmission of any kind of penetrating wave. The system designed and fabricated by the research team is meant to obtain images of the interior of historic walls based on acoustic (sonic) wave propagation. The research has specifically aimed to automate the inspection, which, currently, is typically performed manually, consuming much time at operational and processing level. That is why their use is limited in practice. The automation was also implemented at the level of processing the data by developing new software. The project also aimed to characterize masonry material properties, aiming to reveal specific correlations amongst elastic properties, geometry (internal and external), and wave propagation attributes. That is why laboratory tests were performed on masonry walls to determine their modulus of elasticity. During the tests, the novel automated sonic tomography system was used to inspect the walls, which led to obtain tomographic images during loading and evaluate the evolution of damage. The research outcomes highlight the potential of the tomographic technique to obtain quantitative information about the interior of heritage structures. The project expects to have a significant impact on the conservation community by offering ready-to-use equipment and methods for practitioners for the non-destructive evaluation of historical masonry buildings. More specifically, the novel technology can have a great impact to a variety of professionals that need to be empowered with new tools to perform inspection and document existing buildings: architects, structural engineers (to perform advanced numerical analysis and calculations), archaeologists, surveyors or professionals working in the 3D digitization and virtualization of cultural heritage (to show the interior of structures and the construction technology of the past), etc.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз