Modeling of active infrared thermography for defect detection in concrete structures

An experimental program has been developed, with the purpose of evaluating the reliability in building diagnosis and characterization of an integrated analysis of several parameters related to heat transfer process through the building material. The Infrared Thermography Technique (IRT) has been applied. Experimental measurements have been carried out on a concrete structure with an inside cavity. Moreover further defects have been inserted in the near surface of the structure at different depth. In this paper the finite element method has been used to simulate by a 3D model the heat transfer process induced into the concrete structure by two halogen lamps in order to detect the position of the defects