Improvement of Non-Destructive Testing Techniques in Archaeology and for the Preservation of our Cultural Heritage (NDTofCH)

Project Partner:

Cairo University, Egypt

Project Description:

The NDT-Pyramids project will provide a basis for a more comprehensive and sustainable archaeological research at objects of our cultural heritage (CH) based on non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. Prior to all measuring campaigns, a holistic consideration of the boundary conditions, the material properties and the available measuring techniques is performed based on simulations. A digital model of the object will be generated and all information available from the structure with be added. NDT techniques like RADAR, ultrasound or infrared-thermography will be simulated to evaluate their ability to detect voids or other artefacts inside of the object. As a result, the techniques best outperforming the required information can be selected along with sensor settings and sensor positions. This will establish a sustainable non-destructive (and if required non-contact) evaluation of structures of our cultural heritage.

As a demonstration case, the procedure will be applied to some inner parts of the Cheops Pyramid where possible anomalies have been detected during the ScanPyramids project using Muon mapping.

(NDTofCH project IGSSE webpage)

Start: 2019

Duration: 2019 - approx. 2023

Funding: Project 14.02 International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE), TUM Graduate School, Technische Universität München

TUM Participants:

Chair of Non-destructive Testing: Prof. Christian U. Große, Johannes Scherr, Johannes Rupfle, Polina Pugacheva

Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science: Dr. Clarimma Sessa

Publications:

Saleh AM, Mourad SA, Elanwar HH, Metwally OK, Zeidan E, Adam MA, Ameen MF, Helal KR, Sholqamy MS, Allam HE, Ismael MI, Mostafa KA,  Helal HM, Elbanhawy AY, Grosse CU, Bakhoum MM, Farag MM, Matar HB, Eltobgy HH, Moharram MI, Marzouk MM, Metawie MS,  Ali MR, Sayed AN, Mohamed MG, Elkarmoty MM (2023). The restoration and erection of the world’s first elevated obelisk. Sci Rep 13, 2065. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29092-z