Application of ultrasonic techniques, as a non- destructive method, for the evaluation of a sixteenth century wooden ceiling, in the Marqueses de la Algaba Palace, Seville

This paper exposes some of the results obtained by a group of investigators. Its main aspects are included in Paloma Rubio de Hita's Doctoral Thesis. The main object of this work has been the development of an experimental method by means of non-destructive techniques applied to timber structures. This way, the determination of damages, decay and bending strength of these timber structures will give a diagnosis for their rehabilitation. This investigation, supported by an important laboratory research, enables us to do works in situ with a knowledge of timber resistance characteristics related to the testing technique that we have used. This method has been applied to a very important historical building, the "Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba", a palace located in Seville. Our study has been centred on a 16T" century wooden ceiling, made of Pinus Sylvestris, that was aimed to be restored.