Moisture Measuring Device Based on Non-Destructive Method of Gamma Ray's Attenuation

Abstract

A moisture measuring device based on non-destructive method of gamma rays attenuation, allows measures to deepen concepts in building physics related to the moisture transfer; study the influence of the interface between layers in moisture transfer; analyse the influence of gravity on absorption and drying of different building materials; study the kinetics of absorption and drying of walls of one or more layers; analyse the importance of the temperature gradient in the movement of moisture; calculate the coefficient of water diffusivity of some building materials. In this work the proposed non-destructive method of gamma ray's attenuation was used to analyse the transport of liquid water along a constructive element. For that propose gamma ray hydric profiles with red brick samples, 2 types: "A" and "B", were obtained. Gamma ray hydric profiles are very interesting and original considering that the equipment exists in just a scarce laboratory. It is also intended to show how the equipment works and the way that those profiles can be taken. The water content profiles experimentally measure are very interesting, and the preliminary results obtained, for red brick samples with different densities and sectional area, will be shown and discussed.