Wooden Support Strength Estimation via Gamma Ray Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing the strength of wooden supports, such as drilling or using inspection probes, are invasive, unreliable, and time-consuming, and non-destructive methods like computed tomography are inefficient due to the need for extensive gamma or x-ray attenuation measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using gamma rays to estimate the strength of wooden supports by transmitting rays parallel to the neutral axis, detecting transmission, determining average density, assessing unsound wood, and calculating strength, with optional backscatter measurements to determine sound wood density and thickness, allowing for non-invasive and efficient assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If drilling and plugging holes are used to determine annulus of remaining sound wood, then some information about wood condition can be obtained, but the method produces high uncertainty and causes damage to the support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical drilling and physical probe insertion with gamma ray transmission measurements. Gamma rays pass through the wood without mechanical contact, eliminating the damage caused by drilling while providing continuous density profiling along the neutral axis to assess sound wood annulus thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gamma rays as an intermediary medium to probe the internal structure of the wood. The gamma rays interact with the wood density through attenuation, allowing indirect measurement of sound wood distribution without physical intrusion into the support structure.
2Reliability
If computed tomography with multiple gamma or x-ray attenuation measurements is used, then reliable strength estimation can be achieved, but the measurement process becomes time consuming taking ten to fifteen minutes per support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement needed for strength assessment - gamma ray attenuation along the neutral axis - rather than performing complete 360-degree computed tomography scanning. This selective measurement approach maintains reliability for strength estimation while reducing measurement time from 10-15 minutes to a fraction of that duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing gamma ray measurements at selected locations along the neutral axis rather than complete circumferential scanning. This partial measurement strategy provides sufficient information for strength assessment without the time penalty of comprehensive tomography, achieving adequate precision with reduced effort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a reliable, non-destructive, and efficient method for estimating the strength of wooden supports, reducing uncertainty and the need for invasive drilling, while offering accurate detection of unsound wood regions and residual strength, enabling timely maintenance and reducing wasteful replacements.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting gamma rays parallel to a neutral axis through a cross section of the wooden support, detecting the gamma rays transmitted through the wooden support, determining the average density of the gamma rays in rows parallel to the neutral axis
Implementation Method 2
determining the average density of the gamma rays in rows parallel to the neutral axis, assessing the amount of unsound wood in each row
Data Source
AI summary
A method of estimating the strength of a wooden support wherein gamma rays (4) are transmitted and detected parallel to a neutral axis (5) through a cross section of the support. It also includes a method of locating regions of unsound wood in a wooden support using detection of transmitted gamma rays (4), as well as apparatus suitable for conducting both methods.