Condition and characterization analysis of a twentieth century cultural heritage through non-destructive testing (NDT) methods: the case of the Sivas industry school ironworking atelier in Turkey

Abstract

Before the conservation and restoration of many types of cultural heritage, it is necessary to perform careful examination. This study aimed to determine the original building state and deterioration by applying non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in the case of a heritage building. Another goal was to determine, via NDT methods, whether the limestones observed in this study of different forms, colours, and textures were truly different. The Sivas Industry School Ironworking Atelier, which constitutes the research object, is one of the important public buildings in the city of Sivas, Turkey. Within the scope of the study, non-destructive infrared thermography (IRT), Schmidt hammer rebound (SHR) tests, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy were applied. Accordingly, through IRT, deteriorations, anomalies, and material differences were investigated, and via SHR testing, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) estimates, strength levels and hardness classes of stones were obtained. Moreover, via XRF spectroscopy, characterization analysis of stones was conducted. The data obtained could provide information to establish a basis for subsequent conservation. The innovation of this study is that although the infrared thermography technique is typically used in the investigation of materials, it was revealed that another technique such as XRF analysis is needed to better determine whether stones that seem different based on IRT are actually different. With IRT technique, anomaly and material detorioration can be determined. In addition to these two techniques, SHR tests that are non-destructive methods are needed to think about mechanical features of the material. Therefore, when determining the conditions and for characterization analysis of a cultural heritage before restoration, different techniques should be jointly used to complement each other.