Nondestructive Characterization and Imaging of Wood (Springer Series in Wood Science Book 760)

The subject of nondestructive evaluation of wood properties has its origin in the necessity to solve practical problems. This book comprehensively reviews numerous aspects of imaging and nondestructive characterization of wood products ranging from trees to the most complex wood-based composite. The text is of particular interest to those who are concerned with the study of wood as an engineering material for fundamental research or practical application. It presents the imaging of the internal structure of wood with methods based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves, elastic waves and heat, and imaging with nuclear particle radiation based methods. This book on the Nondestructive Characterization and Imaging of Wood by Professor Voichita Bucur is truly the most outstanding reference on the subject ever written. Since the origins of mankind, wood has played a key role in the history of humans and other living creatures, ranging from provision of life from trees giving air, heat, light, and food to nourish their bodies to structures to protect them from the elements. Wood has also played a key role in one of the world's primary religions. Nondestructive diagnostics methods have long found application in medi­ cal practice for examination of the human body in order to detect life­ threatening abnormalities and permit diagnosis to extend life. Nondestructive testing has been used for many years to insure the safety of machinery, air­ craft, railroads, tunnels, buildings and many other structures. Therefore, it is timely for a treatise, like the present one, to be written describing how wood can be characterized without employing destructive test methods. Since wood is so valuable to mankind, it is important to know the latest methods to nondestructively characterize wood for all practical applications. Front Matter....Pages I-XIV Introduction....Pages 1-11 Ionizing Radiation Computed Tomography....Pages 13-73 Thermal Imaging....Pages 75-123 Microwave Imaging....Pages 125-179 Ultrasonic Imaging....Pages 181-214 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance....Pages 215-279 Neutron Imaging....Pages 281-298 Back Matter....Pages 299-354