Structural diagnosis of historical timber buildings using nondestructive testing (ndt) and Eurocode-based assessment in a humid climate
Source abstract
Abstract
This study presented a minimally invasive workflow for diagnosing the structural condition of the 170–200-year-old historical Biryol House (Çamlıhemşin, Rize, Türkiye). The approach integrated non-destructive testing (NDT) screw withdrawal resistance (SWR) and stress-wave velocity with visual inspection, and Eurocode 5–based structural checks. Building-specific calibration yielded strong relationships between SWR and density (R2 ≈0.96) and between SWR and bending strength (MOR) (R2 ≈0.97), supporting in-situ estimation of mechanical properties. SWR values for members ranged roughly from 0.69 to 2.32 kN; basement beams 2B and 5B fell below minimum strength requirements defined by TS EN 338:2016 and required priority intervention. Axial compression and buckling evaluations for columns revealed that the critical limit state is the design axial strength, not buckling, and that regular monitoring and local strengthening are required, especially in lower-level columns. This study addressed research gaps by applying a comprehensive diagnostic method for historical timber structures, integrating visual identification and non-destructive testing. The results demonstrate that combining visual diagnostics with calibrated NDT enables evidence-based triage, targeted reinforcement, and monitoring for vernacular timber buildings in humid, decay-prone climates. The findings offer a replicable template for preventive conservation of historical timber structures in Türkiye and comparable regions.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Thermography and Photoacoustic Techniques · Wood Treatment and Properties · Smart Materials for Construction
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Karadeniz Technical University
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University
Funding
Karadeniz Technical University
References (45)
Show source-provided references
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