ScanPyramids project: Overview on the Validity and Limitations of Non-destructive Techniques

Abstract

In 2017, ScanPyramids project (www.scanpyramids.org) published a paper in Nature (Morishima et al., 2017) revealing the discovery of a big void (ScanPyramids Big Void BV) observed with nuclear emulsion films (Muography), it has a cross-section similar to that of the Grand Gallery and a minimum length of 30 meters situated above the Grand Gallery. In addition, a geometrically non-identified void in the Northern Face of the Pyramid (ScanPyramids Northern Face Corridor SP-NFC) was detected as well in 2017 followed by further detailed and focused muography measurements up to 2022 (Morishima and Procureur et al., 2023). ScanPyramids SP-NFC corridor has been investigated in more detail with a wider set of non-destructive techniques. The result of GPR, Ultrasonic and image fusion detected precisely the location and shape of ScanPyramids SP-NFC (Elkarmoty and Rupfle et al.,2023). In this paper, we present overview on the application of Muography, Ground Penetrating Radar, Ultrasonic Tomography, and Electrical Resistivity Tomography on the Chevron of the Great Pyramid where ScanPyramids SPNFC is located behind. The objective of the NDT measurements is to detect the geometry, location, orientation, and extension of ScanPyramids SP-NFC with more than one NDT method. The paper addresses the validity and limitations of each method used providing the limitations of each technique in this particular case study.