Stress Distributions Measurements in Wooden Structural Elements Using Thermoelastic Stress Analysis

With growing emphasis on sustainable construction, renewable materials such as wood are increasingly adopted in structural applications. Monitoring these structures requires diagnostic techniques that are both non-invasive and compatible with the properties of the material. Thermoelastic Stress Analysis, typically applied to isotropic-material components, is a noncontact, full-field method that provides stress distribution measurements by leveraging the thermoelastic effect. In this study, a preliminary qualitative evaluation of the Thermoelastic Stress Analysis application on wooden structure under dynamic loading is performed to evaluate its feasibility despite the anisotropic nature of wood. The structure under investigation is constituted of a 5 mm-thick paulownia board with a pre-drilled hole, which is utilised to verify the typical stress distribution. The results highlight the potential of thermoelasticity-based techniques as a viable solution for structural health monitoring of sustainable materials.