Structural health assessment of marble heritage structure with Photonic sensing

Project description

Over the ages, the Taj Mahal has endured natural ravages of time, as well as vagaries of British high-society ‘treasure- hunt’ in the pre-independent India, followed by the wartime tensions of the 1970s and more recently, the rampant environmental pollution and garbage disposals in the choked Yamuna River. Our direction of the collaborative research, would be to overcome some of the parametric challenges that are faced in terms of spatial and depth resolution in THz range so that we can address the sub-surface strain generation leading to cracks in the marble structure; as well as to understand the chemical leaching of Sulphur into calcite structure of marbles making it more and more brittle and powdery with the formation of Gypsum. At the same time, with careful and systematic studies of the chemo-structural changes observed in the acid-exposed marbles, we will try to establish a model of the inclusion of sulphate group by progressive replacement of the carbonate group by a spectral correlation between two orthogonal techniques; that is, inelastic scattering-based Raman response and molecular absorption-based THz response of the marble material. This model will help us establish a benchmark to turn this photonic technique into a standard sensing tool in assessing the structural and health of marble/sandstone structures globally.

Outcomes

This programme will build on the very successful collaboration between the two groups at IIT Delhi and University of Queensland. The above project will utilize the unique combination of expertise and experimental facilities at two internationally-leading research groups to develop an innovative technology targeting the applications of THz radiation in the field of heritage science. Furthermore, by leveraging the world-class expertise in developing THz lasers and time domain THz imaging systems at both UQ and IIT-D, we will develop a novel terahertz (THz) frequency based diagnostic tool that will provide an objective and non-contact means of diagnostics of both surface and sub-surface damage in heritage buildings that are important to India and rest of the world. Conservationists and engineers who are tasked with the restoration of such heritage buildings, where damages are being accelerated by recent deterioration in environmental conditions will also benefit in the field of THz metrology through the use of these fast and sensitive spectroscopic systems. There is potential for significant economic and societal impact through the translation of these technologies to industry, the licensing for manufacture by Indian and Australian industries, and through the creation and growth of THz and optical sensing companies.

Essential capabilities

Excellent knowledge of coding, Excellent written and verbal English Communication Skills, knowledge of basic optics and spectroscopy techniques

Desireable capabilities

Prior experience in Optical experiments and handling of photonics equipment and material systhesis

Expected qualifications (Course/Degrees etc.)

BEng (BTech), MSc (MEng, MS) or MTech in Physics, Chemistry, EE, Material Science or allied disciplines