Impulse-thermography is an active method for quantitative investigations of the near surface region of various structures. It has recently been applied and optimised to applications in civil engineering. By using either an internal or external heat source, parts of the structure under investigation are heated up and the transient heat flux is observed by recording the temperature change at the surface as a function of time. This method is very well suited for the detection of voids and honeycombing in concrete, up to concrete covers of 10 cm as well as for the location of delaminations in multi-layered systems (e.g. plaster on concrete, CFRP-laminates on concrete, asphalt on concrete). Also safety relevant defects like voids in tendon ducts and cracks in concrete could be recognised.
Lockin thermography as well as flash thermography are very well suited for non-destructive testing and characterisation of inhomogeneities and damage in CFRP structures. Both methods are applied more and more in research and industry, but until know it is not clear which are the advantages of one method against the other. In
this paper, results of two research projects concerning the validation and standardisation of both methods are presented. Three different types of CFRP test specimens consisting of well-defined flat bottom holes, of artificial delaminations made of PTFE plates embedded in CFRP and of real impact damage have been investigated systematically with flash and lockin excitation. Here, the phase images of both methods are compared qualitatively as well as quantitatively.
Die Bewertung des Zustandes und der Haftung von Putz und Fassadenelementen auf den darunterliegenden Bauwerksstrukturen ist eine häufig auftretende Fragestellung bei der Erhaltung und Instandsetzung von Bauwerken und Baudenkmälern. Hier müssen nicht nur wirtschaftliche und denkmalpflegerische, sondern auch sicherheitsrelevante Aspekte berücksichtigt werden. Fehlstellen und Ablösungen können, auch wiederholend, mit hoher Nachweisempfindlichkeit mit aktiven Thermografieverfahren geortet und unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen quantitativ bewertet werden. Dazu wird der zu untersuchende Bereich zunächst kurzzeitig (mehrere Minuten lang) erwärmt und anschließend die Abkühlung mit einer Infrarotkamera aufgezeichnet. Systematische Untersuchungen an Probekörpern mit einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Fehlstellen unterhalb von Kalkputz, Fliesen und Klinkerriemchen zeigen, dass die Fehlstellen sowohl mittels künstlicher Erwärmung durch einen Infrarotstrahler als auch mittels natürlicher Erwärmung durch die Sonne detektiert und charakterisiert werden können. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The evaluation of condition and adhesion of plaster and façade elements to the underlying building structure is a common issue in the maintenance and repair of buildings and monuments. Here not only economic and preservation, but also safety relevant aspects have to be considered. Voids and delaminations can be detected repeatedly with high sensitivity using active thermography methods. Under certain conditions, also a quantitative evaluation is possible. The area under investigation has to be heated up for a short time (up to several minutes). Subsequently, the cooling down is recorded using an infrared camera. Systematic studies on test specimens with a variety of defects below lime plaster, tiles and brick tiles show that the defects can be detected and even characterized both by means of artificial heating using an infrared heater, as well as by natural solar heating.