Thermography as a non-Destructive method in evaluation of wood density for Oak and Beech

This study deals with the possibility of evaluation and estimating the wood density in Quercus castaneifolia and Fagus orientalis. Wood samples were prepared and cut firstly in 4×20×30 cm (thickness×width×length). Then their density was calculated after 72 hours of conditioning in an oven at 60°C temperature. In thermography process, the temporal temperature was monitored in 1st, 5th, 10, 20, 30, 45 and 60th minutes of cooling (monitoring steps). Investigating the effects of shape factor and dimension on thermographic density evaluation errors, the specimens were cut down in two more steps to 3×20×30 cm and 2×15×20 cm and the course of thermography experiments was repeated. The relationships of shape factor, density and the ratio of density to the shape factor with the logarithmic cooling rate were evaluated separately. Results showed that density without considering the shape factor variations was not sufficiently correlated to the cooling rate. But the ratios of the density to their proper shape factors were promising for the density evaluations from the cooling rates. However, it is suggested to revise this non-destructive method using a larger variety of the wood specimens and species.