Thermographic investigation of "leccese" stone masonry structures

Abstract

InfraRed Thermography (IRT) is a wireless, contactless and smart technique potentially suitable for the qualitative and/or quantitative buildings long-term monitoring. However, the monitoring of a particular object/defect in a masonry structure can succeed only if the thermographic survey is performed with a suitable experimental setup, defined after a specific laboratory calibration, leading to the proper definition of the operational parameters (active/passive approach, distances, time-windows, etc.). The aim of this document is to describe the advanced testing of "leccese" stone masonry samples, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of IR thermography to qualitatively detect defects and inhomogeneities (voids, irregular mortar joints, wooden and metallic inclusions) inside masonry textures or behind plaster layers, as well as evaluating the capacity of IR thermography to detect the beginning of material deterioration and its long term evolution. At the end of the experimental work the calibration of an infrared technique to be used for the NDT of historic structures was defined, by identifying the best set of operative parameters. © RILEM 2013.