Title: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) based system for nondestructive detection of interior defects in wooden logs

Authors: Dayakar Devaru, Udaya B. Halabe, Bhaskaran Gopalakrishnan, Sachin Agrawal

Addresses: IMSE and CEE Departments, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. ' IMSE and CEE Departments, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. ' IMSE and CEE Departments, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. ' IMSE and CEE Departments, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA

Abstract: A previous study used GPR to scan logs and find internal defects nondestructively. The GPR data was processed and analysed using RADAN software, which needs an expert and is time consuming. Also, the output from RADAN cannot be used to generate manufacturing process instructions required for optimal sawing of logs in saw mills since the output is in the form of an image. For online implementation of GPR scanning in saw mills, a quick automated defect detection system with numerical output for defect coordinates is required for which a MATLAB based algorithm has been developed and presented in this paper.

Keywords: GPR; ground penetrating radar; NDT; nondestructive testing; logs; rectangular filter; subsurface wood defects; knots; decays; rots; embedded metals; interior defects; saw mills; defect detection; sawing optimisation; manufacturing process instructions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMR.2008.020903

International Journal of Manufacturing Research, 2008 Vol.3 No.4, pp.425 - 451

Published online: 23 Oct 2008 *

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