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This study presents the utilization of the microwave infrared thermography (MIRT) technique to identify and analyze the defects in the carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite reinforcement of concrete specimens. At first, a set of numerical models was created, comprising the broadband pyramidal horn antenna and the analyzed specimen. The utilization of the system operating at a power of 1000 W in a continuous mode, operating at frequency of 2.45 GHz, was analyzed. The specimen under examination comprised a compact concrete slab that was covered with an adhesive layer and, thereafter, topped with a layer of CFRP. An air gap represented a defect at the interface between the concrete and the CFRP within the adhesive layer. In the modeling stage, the study investigated three separate scenarios—a sample with no defects, a sample with a defect located at the center, and a sample with a numerous additional random defects located at the rim of the CFRP matte—to analyze the effect of the natural reinforcement degradation in this area. The next phase of the study involved conducting experiments to confirm the results obtained from numerical modeling. In the experiments, the concrete sample aged for 10 years with the defect in the center and naturally developed defects at the CFRP rim was used. The study employed numerical modeling to explore the phenomenon of microwave heating in complex structures. The aim was to assess the chosen antenna design and identify the most effective experimental setup. These conclusions were subsequently confirmed through experimentation. The observations made during the heating process were particularly remarkable since they deviated from earlier studies that solely conducted measurements of the sample post-heating phase. The findings demonstrate that MIRT has the capacity to be employed as a technique for detecting flaws in concrete structures reinforced with CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents the application of the microwave infrared thermography (MIRT) technique for the purpose of detecting and characterizing defects in the carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite reinforcement of concrete specimens. Initially, a numerical model was constructed, which consisted of a broadband pyramidal horn antenna and the specimen. The present study investigated the application of a 360 W power system that operated at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, specifically focusing on two different operational modes: continuous and modulated. The specimen being examined consisted of a solid concrete slab that was coated with an adhesive layer, which was then overlaid with a layer of CFRP. Within the adhesive layer, at the interface between the concrete and CFRP, there was a defect in the form of an air gap. The study examined three distinct scenarios: a sample without any defects, a sample with a defect positioned at the center, and a sample with a defect positioned outside the center. The subsequent stage of the investigation incorporated experimental verification of the numerical modeling results. The experiment involved the utilization of two concrete specimens reinforced using CFRP, one without any defects and the other with a defect. Numerical modeling was used in this study to analyze the phenomenon of microwave heating in complex structures. The objective was to evaluate the selected antenna geometry and determine the optimal experimental configuration. Subsequently, these findings were experimentally validated. The observations conducted during the heating phase were particularly noteworthy, as they differed from previous studies that only performed observation of the sample after the heating phase. The results show that MIRT has the potential to be utilized as a method for identifying defects in concrete structures that are reinforced with CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Europe area is one of the world regions where traditionally flax is grown. Whether in France or Belgium, flax is mainly used for the production of fabrics. When separating the different components of the plant, small woody elements called shives which represented about 50% of the production, are recovered. This work aims to study the behavior of flax shives used as insulation material in an attic of a French Flanders traditional house. Main scientific issues related to the study of heat and mass transfer is to determine the evolution of the thermal characteristics of the material and its durability. First, we propose a laboratory analysis of the hygrothermal behavior of shives by conventional thermal methods for characterizing thermal conductivity and volumetric heat (heat flux method), sorption curve is also determined. Then we focus on an experimental site which is an independent house where the old insulation of the attic in glass wool was replaced by flax shives. The hygrothermal behavior of this new insulation was monitored with humidity and temperature sensors for ten months. The thermal performances determined for a raw form of the shives in the laboratory are encouraging and hygrometric results show advantageous behavior whatever the season.

Concrete cover has an important role in reinforced concrete (RC) structures because it protects reinforcement bars from the bad effects of weather, fire, and bad environmental conditions that cause the corrosion of the reinforcements. Although it is an essential parameter to be considered for structural health monitoring (SHM), its detection by infrared thermography, especially in the heating phase, has not been accessed yet. The detailed analysis and discussions of physical phenomena, known as diffraction and interference, affecting the thermograms during the detection of the steel bars by microwave thermography have given an essential key for resolving this issue. The present paper proposes an innovative methodology with microwave thermography for determining the concrete cover thickness of one-layer reinforcements (12 mm in diameter and regularly placed at 10 cm) in an RC wall (1 m × 1 m × 6.5 cm). By using the transmission approach with five angles of microwave antenna direction (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°) and the Snell–Descartes law and linear law, the proposed methodology leads us to deduce the approximate value of the concrete cover thickness (37.74 mm), which is close to the real value (38 mm), as well as the spacing of the steel bars and dielectric constant of the concrete. The detection of the concrete cover thickness is another new remarkable achievement of infrared thermography methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural stone is a traditional building material used worldwide for millennia. Its mechanical properties are rather well known, but only a small quantity of data is available regarding its hygrothermal characteristics. However, these characteristics are essential for the design of energy efficient buildings. Stones are in fact associated with insulation materials, which strongly modify the hygrothermal behavior of building walls, thereby impacting their durability and thermal comfort. This study focused on the hygrothermal characterization of a dozen samples of limestone, offering an adequate representation of their use across France. Thermal conductivity and heat capacity, sorption and desorption isotherms, water vapor permeability, and moisture buffer value (MBV) all were determined and analyzed. These data can be used to model heat and mass transfers in building walls. Limestone features extensive physical properties that can vary from one place to another within the same quarry. A statistical classification of the mechanical properties of thousands of French limestones was carried out. This classification allows estimating the hygrothermal properties previously determined for other stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article on the characteristics of limestones for energy-efficient and sustainable building components. The authors have identified errors in the original publication and have provided corrected values for certain measurements. The document includes a table with the corrected values for properties such as density, porosity, and thermal conductivity. The purpose of this correction is to ensure the accuracy of the published information. [Extracted from the article]

This study presents a NDT method using infrared thermography associated with a microwave excitation. The advantages of such stimulation lie in the volumic absorption of incoming waves which lead to a greater sounded depth. This method is applied to two types of samples. The first is a concrete slab reinforced with CFRP on which a bonding failure is inserted and the second is a wooden plate on which a metallic insert is placed on the back face. The device generating the microwaves is made of a commercial magnetron associated with a pyramidal horn antenna. An infrared camera is placed on the same side as the stimulated surface and thermograms are recorded at regular intervals. The whole assembly is placed in a protective room against high frequencies. The incident power density leads to heating of less than 1 °C of the surface of the samples. The thermograms show a higher temperature rise in front of the defect area. The non-uniformity of the beam, leads us to treat the thermograms with an algorithm of contrast. These first results show the interest of the microwave excitation to detect defects deeper than in the case of surface excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in situ estimation of the thermal properties of bio-sourced building wall insulation components is of critical importance in improving both the energy efficiency of buildings and the development of construction materials with a smaller environmental footprint. Depending on weather conditions, passive methods are not always feasible; they require time to conduct lengthy testing and may lead to significant uncertainties. This article presents an active method based on power dissipation via flat electrical resistance. The method can be implemented regardless of outdoor weather conditions and is suitable for walls with high overall thermal resistance for which the small average component of the through flow is difficult to estimate. Measurements are conducted of both wall input flows and temperatures. An inverse method, derived from a finite difference model of 1D transfers along with a multi-objective approach, enables the characteristics of a two-material assembly to be identified. A multi-objective method was chosen to solve the problems of high correlation between the thermal parameters of the model. However, the method requires the use of two temperature sensors integrated inside the wall. Following a laboratory validation phase on a PVC/plasterboard assembly, the method is implemented on an actual wall. A coating/hemp concrete assembly is also characterized as part of this work program. The thermal conductivity of the hemp concrete block was estimated at 0.12 W m−1 K−1 and is consistent with values found in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a period of surging energy prices, resource depletion, and concerns over the use of nuclear power, energy savings are paramount and a major component of ongoing sustainable development. Geothermal energy is the energy stored in the form of heat beneath the surface of the Earth. Related to this, the thermal properties of soils are of great importance, particularly with regard to the modern trends of utilizing the subsurface for transmission of either heated fluids or high power currents. For example, in geothermal hydrology or geotechnical engineering applications, the thermal conductivity must be determined to assess the energy potential of the soil. The presence of water (groundwater, rainfall, natural moisture) improves both the thermal conductivity and thermal capacity fields. We present an original method-based on a thermal study and the use of non-integer order models-to determine the thermophysical parameters of different soils in near-surface layers, and link them to the water content variations of different soils. The results are compared with those obtained using a capacitive profile probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]