- Author
- Rossiter, W. J., Jr. | Clifton, J. R.
- Title
- Use of Nondestructuve Methods for Inspection of Single-Ply Roofing Membranes.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Durability of Building Materials, Vol. 3, 343-352, 1986
- Keywords
- roofs | roofing (finishes) | inspection | plastics | composite materials
- Abstract
- This laboratory study investigated the use of the ultrasonic pulse echo method and the infrared thermography method to detect voids and delaminations nondestructively in seams of single-ply roofing membranes. Voids were intentionally incorporated in seam specimens prepared using a commercially available EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer) roofing membrane material. A number of factors affecting the response of the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods was examined, including: pressure applied during seam fabrication, void size, water in the void, temperature, unbonded seam interfaces, and supporting panel under the seam. The results indicated that both NDE methods were successful under certain laboratory conditions in locating hidden voids and delaminations in the seam specimens. Both the ultrasonic pulse echo and the infrared thermography methods need further research before their reliability in locating defects is ascertained and their results can be more fully interpreted.