Wood consolidation assessment by fundamental frequency method in cultural heritage preservation

Abstract

[EN] In cultural heritage preservation, wood consolidation is usually performed with soluble resins. However, the structural improvements are not always evaluated. This study has analyzed the consolidation by the increment of the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn) using a nondestructive evaluation method based on fundamental frequency (f1). Samples with three different decay levels from a 250 years old wooden ceiling, belonging to San Francisco Church in Quito - Ecuador, were consolidated with two thermoplastic resins (P(EMA/MA) poly ethyl methacrylate / methyl acrylate and PVB poly vinyl butyral) by immersion at two different pressures. Since MOEdyn is closely related to the modulus of elasticity obtained by static method (MOEsta), in this study flexure bending test were performed to confirm MOEdyn values. From the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that there is no significant improvement between samples consolidated and those none consolidated. Thus, the use of this kind of consolidating resins is not justified from a technical, economical or ecological point of view.