Re: "ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF WOODEN UTILITY POLES"

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Re: "ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF WOODEN UTILITY POLES"
Posted by: M S Johannes (PID_566), E-mail: manfred.johannes@eskom.co.za, on May 10, 2000 at 22:06 :
In Reply to: "ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF WOODEN UTILITY POLES" posted by : Joseph Pascente on May 02, 2000 at 14:02:
Based on the research that has been conducted in Eskom we would recommend that you look at the Resistograph manufactured in Germany by IML. With this unit one can quantify the density in wooden poles fairly accurately, without inducing unacceptable amounts of damage.
It has been found that in spite of various decay mechanisms present in wooden poles, some poles last, whilst others, which may look OK, actually fail. To assess the remnant strength of wooden poles, Eskom developed a Mechanical Pole Tester, which physically applies a bending moment to the pole and with the aid of a small computer calculates the remnant strength of a single pole. Excellent results are achieved using the mechanical pole tester. Tests to validate the test method included the physical destruction of a number of poles under controlled conditions.
Our research and development has shown that Ultrasonic testing of wooden poles is unreliable and does not provide one with repeatable results. There are too many variables which affect the UT energy. Hence, we would recommend the use one of the above mentioned methods.
M S Johannes
Chief Consultant
(Mechanised NDT)

Tel: +27 11 629 5095
FAx: +27 11 629 5777

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Re: "ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF WOODEN UTILITY POLES" G. Bennett 23:16 11/01/2001 (0)

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: Based on the research that has been conducted in Eskom we would recommend that you look at the Resistograph manufactured in Germany by IML. With this unit one can quantify the density in wooden poles fairly accurately, without inducing unacceptable amounts of damage. : It has been found that in spite of various decay mechanisms present in wooden poles, some poles last, whilst others, which may look OK, actually fail. To assess the remnant strength of wooden poles, Eskom developed a Mechanical Pole Tester, which physically applies a bending moment to the pole and with the aid of a small computer calculates the remnant strength of a single pole. Excellent results are achieved using the mechanical pole tester. Tests to validate the test method included the physical destruction of a number of poles under controlled conditions. : Our research and development has shown that Ultrasonic testing of wooden poles is unreliable and does not provide one with repeatable results. There are too many variables which affect the UT energy. Hence, we would recommend the use one of the above mentioned methods. : M S Johannes : Chief Consultant : (Mechanised NDT) : : Tel: +27 11 629 5095 : FAx: +27 11 629 5777

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