This book on the Nondestructive Characterization and Imaging of Wood by Professor Voichita Bucur is truly the most outstanding reference on the subject ever written. Since the origins of mankind, wood has played a key role in the history of humans and other living creatures, ranging from provision of life from trees giving air, heat, light, and food to nourish their bodies to structures to protect them from the elements. Wood has also played a key role in one of the world's primary religions. Nondestructive diagnostics methods have long found application in medi cal practice for examination of the human body in order to detect life threatening abnormalities and permit diagnosis to extend life. Nondestructive testing has been used for many years to insure the safety of machinery, air craft, railroads, tunnels, buildings and many other structures. Therefore, it is timely for a treatise, like the present one, to be written describing how wood can be characterized without employing destructive test methods. Since wood is so valuable to mankind, it is important to know the latest methods to nondestructively characterize wood for all practical applications. 1 Introduction.- 2 Ionizing Radiation Computed Tomography.- 3 Thermal Imaging.- 4 Microwave Imaging.- 5 Ultrasonic Imaging.- 6 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.- 7 Neutron Imaging.- References.- List of Notations.- Color Plates.
From the reviews:
"A comprehensive account is given of the principles, practice and achievements of imaging the internal structure of wood and wood-based composites. Techniques for non-destructive evaluation which are discussed are ionizing radiation computed tomography, thermal imaging, microwave imaging, ultrasonic imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance, and neutron imaging. There is an extensive bibliography and a subject index. The book will be of particular interest to those concerned with wood as an engineering material, as well as research scientists and students of wood structure." (CAB Abstracts, July, 2008)
