Patterns of Resistographs for Evaluating Deteriorated Structural Wood Members

The density and strength of wood is affected by degradations and defects, such as voids and knots. Old wooden structures such as traditional cultural properties have been deteriorated by these types of defects. They were evaluated by a visual observation that is difficult to evaluate the inner deterioration in structures. In this study, three nondestructive testing techniques were investigated to detect the wooden structural members. Ultrasonic stress wave tests, drilling resistance tests and visual inspections were used to examine the structural wood members. Patterns of Resistograph using by drilling resistance tests could indicate the features of internal wood such as voids, knots, decay, fungi, and so on. The technique just like as ultrasonic stress wave tests, however, difficult to detect exactly area where small amounts of internal deterioration in logs are. In spite of results of ultrasonic stress wave test, the internal deterioration of wooden structural members could be evaluated by the relationship between ultrasonic stress wave tests and drilling resistance tests.