Detection of Singularities and Subsurface Defects in Wood by Infrared Thermography

Abstract

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technique that allows the visualization of the surface temperature of objects from the radiation that they emit without any kind of contact. This non-destructive technique (NDT) is used worldwide for locating and identifying internal defects in materials from the thermal anomalies that these defects generate on the surface of the materials, among other applications. Two types of irregularities are found in wood: singularities and defects, which are regions of disorder that affect the quality of the wood and decrease its resistance capacity. Based on the local density variations caused by these irregularities that alter the thermodynamic behavior of the wood, the present investigation analyzed the capacity and performance of IRT for the exploration and detection of these subsurface singularities and defects in wood. The results establish the true scope of this technique in detecting subsurface defects in wood and verifying the complexity inherent in the analysis.