Application of the Gamma-Ray Backscatter Technique to the Inspection of Utility Poles

The gamma-ray backscatter technique is a rapid nondestructive method for the detection of internal defects in utility poles. It makes use of the principle that gamma rays passing through a material are scattered by that material. Many factors were tested in this study–such as source-detector distance, source depression, and detector depression. And from these variables, optimal conditions were determined. Then scans of utility pole sections with known defects were made with the gamma-ray backscattering device. For these experiments the scatterer consisted of 3/4-inch thick by 12-by 12- inch slabs of southern red oak. It is concluded that internal cavities such as rot in utility poles can be detected by an automatic scan type recorder.

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