STUDY ON LIMITATIONS OF THERMOGRAPHIC SURVEY APPLIED TO THE DETECTION OF DELAMINATION IN CONCRETE STRUCTURES

As a method of detecting delamination of finishing materials on external walls, the thermographic survey using thermal imager is widely used because of the advantages of easiness, rate of data sampling, and safety. However, since this method is based on the lack of heat conductivity of the delaminated area in comparison with that of the sound area of the building wall, which causes temperature differences between their surfaces, the limitations of this method depend largely upon natural weathering. This paper discusses the applicability and limitations of the method by carrying out an experiment and a heat balance simulation using Finite Element Method. As a result, the applicability and limitations of this method were clarified. In addition, it was proved that the thermographic survey shows a good performance for the detection of delaminated render or tile by choosing fine weather in proper seasons.