Nondestructive evaluation of wooden logs using ground penetrating radar

Presently there are no suitable non-invasive methods for precisely detecting the subsurface defects in logs in real time. Internal defects such as knots, decays, and embedded metals are of greatest concern for lumber production. While defects such as knots and decays (rots) are of major concern related to productivity and yield of high value wood products, embedded metals can damage the saw blade and significantly increase the down time and maintenance costs of saw mills.;Nondestructive scanning of logs using techniques such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) prior to sawing can greatly increase the productivity and yield of high value lumber. Currently GPR has been widely used for civil engineering applications for nondestructive testing of bridges and highways. GPR is also being used for geological and archeological purposes where the imaging needs in many ways are similar to that of logs. However, GPR application in the field of wood industry is very new. GPR has advantages both technically and economically over other non-invasive techniques like X-ray, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Stress Wave and Ultrasound. GPR can collect subsurface data much faster compared to many other techniques and provides better penetrating power. For every application the frequency of EM wave plays a very important role.;The main objective of this research is to investigate the use GPR for identifying subsurface defects in logs. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Agrawal, Sachin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Udaya B. Halabe.

• Civil engineering
• Geotechnology

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1619

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-2622