Estimation of wood density using infrared thermography

Infrared thermography (IRT) has only recently been employed as a technique for the non-destructive inspection of structures. It allows for the remote visualisation of surface temperature without making contact with a given sample. Thus, it can be considered an entirely non-destructive technique. However, despite the undeniable potential, the benefits of this technique are currently limited, principally due to the lack of sufficient research into its operation. This work provides an analysis of the principles of IRT and the thermodynamic behaviour of timber as a function of its density. The experimental results regarding the cooling of various samples has enabled the design of a graphic and statistical procedure that allows for the density of timber to be estimated quantitatively and represents an interesting alternative method for the physical characterisation of this material. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.