WILLIAM HAROLD NELSON
Pharmacy at Highland Ave, Madison, WI

License number

Wisconsin 7430-040

Professional information

Method And Apparatus For In Situ Evaluation Of Wooden Members

US Patent:

5396799, Mar 14, 1995

Filed:

Jul 13, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/912391

Inventors:

Robert J. Ross - Madison WI
Rodney C. De Groot - Madison WI
Earl A. Geske - Cross Plains WI
William J. Nelson - Madison WI
Vyto C. Malinauskas - Madison WI
Diego O. Cuevas - Madison WI

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Agriculture - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01H 100, G01N 2904

US Classification:

73579

Abstract:

A method for the non-destructive evaluation of the integrity of wooden members, in situ, for example, embedded in the soil, employing the reflection of an acoustic wave off of the embedded end of the wooden member. The reflection is caused by the discontinuity in acoustic properties between wood and the supporting medium. The method allows the measurement, at one end of the member, of substantially the entire length of the wooden member without its removal. The acoustic wave is monitored in time and amplitude to provide indications of sound speed and attenuation, measurements which apparently are not unduly affected by coupling losses between the wooden member and its supporting matrix. These measured values may be empirically linked in an equation providing the integrity of the wooden member.