The use of large-scale X-ray computed tomography for the evaluation of damaged structural elements from an old timber bridge

This paper shows how timber structures in our cultural heritage can be evaluated by large-scale X-ray computed tomography (CT) to supplement visual inspection and conventional strength biological degradation tests. Approx. 25 year old preservative-impregnated beams from a nearly 300-year-old bridge were replaced due severe degradation. The condemned examined CT scanning, three-point bending decay tests performed. imaging gave good overview of the internal structure beams, features such as rot, nails cracking could easily detected quantified. images indicate that mild-steel decking main cause subsequent rot fungus. load at breakage modulus elasticity (MOE) values approx. half those undamaged reference beam. Large-scale scanning is powerful tool for non-destructive members historical structures.