Experimental studies by combined NDT of capillary rise monitoring in masonry specimens

In the case of Cultural Heritage a destructive or partly destructive investigation approach is rightly hindered by high protection measures. Nevertheless, for preservation purposes it is fundamental to deepen the knowledge about the various types of historic structures and their health state of conservation as well as on evolution of material decay due to environmental factors. The role of non destructive techniques (NDT) for assessment purposes becomes fundamental in these cases but their use is still not sufficiently widespread nor the technique’s limits or possibilities are completely explored. Radar and infrared thermography are nondestructive investigation techniques becoming more frequently employed in diagnostics. This paper describes an integrated experimental approach based on infrared thermography and radar for the assessment of masonry structures. At a laboratory scale, the focus was placed onto their evaluation capacity to detect construction details and the beginning of material changes/deterioration and evolution with particular regard to moisture and brine capillary transport.