Mechanical testing of wood assisted by infrared spectroscopy and thermal imaging

Recent developments in the field of metrological sciences allow broader access to some measurement techniques up to now limited to few specialized applications. The spectroscopy and thermal imaging are examples of such methods. Reduction of the sensor cost and simplification of the calibration procedure opened new application areas of these techniques. The paper shows an illustration of the infrared imaging potential into understanding, monitoring and visualization of the material changes during mechanical testing. Thermal images provide very essential supplement to the visible-range pictures, extending the human perception into something we can not see. Initiation of cracks and areas of elevated deformations are clearly visible with thermography. Infrared spectroscopy however can be very interesting alternative for detection of the physical-chemical changes on the molecular level in material due to response to the mechanical stresses.