Method and apparatus for in situ evaluation of wooden members

US5396799A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• Robert J. Ross · Raleigh, US
• Rodney C. De Groot · Madison, US
• Earl A. Geske · Middleton, US
• William J. Nelson · Rockford, US
• Vyto C. Malinauskas · Madison, US
• Diego O. Cuevas · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 13, 1992
• Grant date: Mar 14, 1995
• Expiry date: Jul 13, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/0421
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for the non-destructive evaluation of the integrity of wooden members, in situ, for example, embedded in the soil, employing the reflection of an acoustic wave off of the embedded end of the wooden member. The reflection is caused by the discontinuity in acoustic properties between wood and the supporting medium. The method allows the measurement, at one end of the member, of substantially the entire length of the wooden member without its removal. The acoustic wave is monitored in time and amplitude to provide indications of sound speed and attenuation, measurements which apparently are not unduly affected by coupling losses between the wooden member and its supporting matrix. These measured values may be empirically linked in an equation providing the integrity of the wooden member.