Case Study on the Use of Thermographic Analysis to Evaluate an Additively Constructed Building (2024-09)¶

The use of thermography as a non-destructive testing (NDT) method has been used in literature on conventionally built structures but has limited studies for the layered effect and infill patterns used in additive construction. Thermography was used to evaluate the thermodynamic properties and structural performance during construction of a barracks hut constructed using additive construction at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, US. Thermographic analysis in this case study focused on two aspects: hydration process and structural anomalies. First, thermographic analysis was conducted to monitor the hydration process of cementitious materials used in additive construction. Second, thermal mass principles were used to detect structural anomalies, such as, voids and delamination within the printed structure. The sensitivity of thermographic methods to temperature variations caused by inconsistencies in the structure were able to identify potential weak spots that could compromise the integrity of the building. This case study provides an assessment on the use of non-destructive evaluation for monitoring cement hydration and quality control of structures built by additive construction methods.