Sustainable Electromagnetic Prototype for Detecting Internal Deterioration in Building Walls

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Materials Science
• Non-Destructive Testing

Background:

• Assessing interior wall deterioration typically requires destructive methods, leading to uncertainty and increased costs.
• There is a need for non-invasive techniques to evaluate the internal condition of building walls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sustainable electromagnetic prototype for detecting interior wall deterioration.
• To mitigate uncertainty associated with non-destructive evaluation of building structures.

Main Methods:

• Experimental, developmental, and quantitative approach.
• Utilized electromagnetic field properties: inductance, electric current, modulated frequency, and power.
• Tested on specimens of concrete, brick, adobe, plaster, and sand with wall thicknesses < 300 mm.

Main Results:

• Optimum magnetic field of 0.18 µT penetrated 150 mm into materials with densities 1.0-2.4 g/cm³ and porosities 11-60%.
• High coefficient of determination (R² = 0.8914) for current and wave.
• Average inductance of 184 µH achieved with specific coil parameters (9.75 cm radius, 19 turns, AWG-25 wire).
• Frequency-modulated signal ranged from 10-22 kHz.

Conclusions:

• The prototype successfully detects interior wall deterioration non-destructively.
• The system demonstrated a low reading error of 5% with signal reflection on a metallic guide.
• The electromagnetic prototype is safe for operators and the environment.