Determination of defects and damages in wood poles in Artvin region in Turkey

In this thesis, it was aimed to determine defects and damages in wood poles in three different areas of study (Hopa, Borçka ve Ardanuç) which have different climate and soil properties in Artvin and its region and the effects of climate and some soil properties on the damage and deterioration. While determining areas of study, Hopa on behalf of heavily humid climate, Borçka on behalf of middle humid climate and Ardanuç behalf of semiarid climate were determined. Total 150 wood utility poles which served in the same years in Hopa, Borçka and Ardanuç located in the province of Artvin were determined and the locations of these wood poles were determined and mapped by means of GPS. The current damages and destruction of wood poles in areas of study were identified as a result of the investigation carried out by means of both visually examination and non-destructive test devices. In these determining studies, Resistograph, Microhammer and Fakopp 3D Acoustic Tomography were used as non-destructive test devices. As a result of these investigations, the poles which generally had the most damages and rots were identified respectively in Hopa, Borçka and Ardanuç. Total 317 soil pieces obtained adjacent to wood poles from the lateral depths (0-5 cm ve 20-30 cm) and vertical distances (0-50 cm ve 50-100 cm) of wood poles (except from the ones impregnated with creosote) were taken as samples. In these samples, the amounts of Cu, Cr, As and B were determined by ICP-OES. According to results of tests, in the soil samples obtained adjacent to wood utility poles, the most As, Cr and B concentration were determined in Hopa and Cu concentration were determined in Borçka.