Articles | Volume 5, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-5-575-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-5-575-2016
Research article
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16 Dec 2016
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 16 Dec 2016

Non-destructive evaluation of moisture content in wood using ground-penetrating radar

Hamza Reci, Tien Chinh Maï, Zoubir Mehdi Sbartaï, Lara Pajewski, and Emanuela Kiri

Abstract. This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory measurements, carried out to study how the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signal is affected by moisture variation in wood material. The effects of the wood fibre direction, with respect to the polarisation of the electromagnetic field, are investigated. The relative permittivity of wood and the amplitude of the electric field received by the radar are measured for different humidity levels using the direct-wave method in wide angle radar reflection configuration, in which one GPR antenna is moved while the other is kept in a fixed position. The received signal is recorded for different separations between the transmitting and receiving antennas. Dielectric constants estimated from direct waves are compared to those estimated from reflected waves: direct and reflected waves show different behaviour when the moisture content varies, due to their different propagation paths.

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Short summary
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a powerful tool that uses electromagnetic waves to obtain 3-dimensional images of natural or man-made structures and subsoil. It is employed in a large variety of applications in which non-destructive investigations are required. This paper deals with the use of GPR for the evaluation of moisture content in wood. The results of our work are of great interest for the preservation of timber structures, as moisture content is highly relevant to wood deterioration.