Assessment of mechanical properties for ancient timber through visual and ND methods

The Italian built heritage is characterized by an extensive use of timber as building material, realizing floor and roof structures of palace, churches and buildings. Conservation and restoration are needed for the safeguard of the timber-built heritage. However, given the lack of knowledge about the mechanical capabilities of the ancient structural members, often the blind removal takes place. In this context a research program for the mechanical characterization of ancient timber elements through an experimental campaign is ongoing at the University of Calabria, through a cooperation with the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Florence and the National Research Council. In particular, 18 ancient timber members are studied through the application of innovative survey methods, visual strength grading, non-destructive, destructive and long-term bending tests. In this paper a first part of the experimental work concerning survey, visual strength grading and non-destructive tests on 8 specimen is presented.