Principal Components Analysis for the Interpretation of Humidification Phenomena - Preliminary Results

Abstract

Moisture is one of the major causes of building decay, compromising the indoor air quality and the durability of building components. Infrared thermography is a non-destructive technique that can be used to prevent damage caused by the presence of water. In this study, the potential of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was assessed as a quantitative technique for processing the thermal images captured during 24 hours of water absorption by a lightweight concrete specimen. PCA showed that the first principal component is the one that better explains the phenomenon. The initial instant was the most interesting to identify the water level in the sample and the final instant allowed defining the first 8h as the most relevant.