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NDT For Concrete

The document discusses various non-destructive testing methods for concrete, including compressive strength testing, penetration tests, pull-out tests, ultrasonic pulse velocity testing, and rebound hammer testing. Each method is described in 1-2 sentences, and their advantages and limitations are summarized. The goal of non-destructive testing is to assess properties like strength, uniformity, integrity and defects in concrete structures without damaging the sample.

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160 views26 pages

NDT For Concrete

The document discusses various non-destructive testing methods for concrete, including compressive strength testing, penetration tests, pull-out tests, ultrasonic pulse velocity testing, and rebound hammer testing. Each method is described in 1-2 sentences, and their advantages and limitations are summarized. The goal of non-destructive testing is to assess properties like strength, uniformity, integrity and defects in concrete structures without damaging the sample.

Uploaded by

RaviKanthSrivastav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete

Materials Lab

CE 306
Measurement of strength of concrete

Standard method:

compressive, flexural and tensile strengths.

Compressive strength testing of concrete flexural strength testing of concrete


(Source: civilsnapshot.com) (Source: civilsnapshot.com)
Disadvantages

• Huge initial cost

• Results are not obtained immediately.

• Soncrete in specimens may differ from that in the actual structure as a


result of different curing and compaction conditions.

• Strength properties of a concrete specimen depend on its size and shape.

• Eg. Strength measured using standard cylinder of concrete


= 0.84 * Strength measured using standard cylinder of concrete
Defects Observed

• Cracks
• Surface pitting and Spalling
• Surface Staining
• Differential movements and Displacements
• Variation in algal and vegetable growth
• Surface voids
• Honeycombing
• Bleed Marks
• Constructional and Lift Joints
Purposes of Non-destructive Tests are:

• Estimating the in-situ compressive strength


• Estimating the uniformity and homogeneity
• Estimating the quality in relation to standard requirement
• Identifying areas of lower integrity in comparison to other parts
• Detection of presence of cracks, voids and other imperfections
• Monitoring changes in the structure of the concrete which may occur with time
Purposes of Non-destructive Tests are:

• Identification of reinforcement profile and measurement of cover, bar


diameter, etc.
• Condition of prestressing/reinforcement steel with respect to corrosion
• Chloride, sulphate, alkali contents or degree of carbonation
• Measurement of Elastic Modulus
• Condition of grouting in prestressing cable ducts
Methods of Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete

• Penetration method
• Pull out test method
• Radioactive methods
• Ultrasonic pulse velocity method
• Rebound hammer method

• IS 1311 – Non Destructive Testing


Penetration Tests on Concrete

• The Windsor probe

• Equipment consists of a powder-actuated gun or driver, hardened alloy


probes, loaded cartridges, a depth gauge for measuring penetration of probes
and other related equipment.

• A probe, diameter 0.25 in. (6.5 mm) and length 3.125 in. (8.0 cm), is driven
into the concrete by means of a precision powder charge. Depth of
penetration provides an indication of the compressive strength of the
concrete.

• Although calibration charts are provided by the manufacturer, the instrument


should be calibrated for type of concrete and type and size of aggregate used.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhlMhwBdAN8
Penetration Tests on Concrete

Limitations and Advantages

• The probe test produces quite variable results and should not be
expected to give accurate values of concrete strength.

• It has, however, the potential for providing a quick means of


checking quality and maturity of in situ concrete.
Pull-Out Tests on Concrete

• A pull-out test measures, with a special ram, the force required to pull
from the concrete a specially shaped steel rod whose enlarged end has
been cast into the concrete to a depth of 3 in. (7.6 cm).

• The concrete is simultaneously in tension and in shear, but the force


required to pull the concrete out can be related to its compressive strength.

• The pull-out technique can thus measure quantitatively the in-situ strength
of concrete when proper correlations have been made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBe4okYOvyA
Limitations and Advantages

• Pullout tests do not measure the interior strength of mass concrete.

• They do give information on the maturity and development of strength


of a representative part of it.

• Such tests have the advantage of measuring quantitatively the strength


of concrete in place.
Radioactive Methods

• Use of X-rays and Gamma rays in NDT is new concept

• X and gamma rays are the component of high energy region on the
electromagnetic spectrum, it penetrates concrete but undergo attenuation in the
process

• The degree of attenuation, the intensity of X/Gamma rays passing through the
specimen is measured

• By using these two values density of concrete is calculated and perhaps


establish whether honeycombing has occurred in structural concrete units.
Radioactive Methods

trichyndt.com

The equipment is quite simple and running costs are small, although the initial
price can be high. Concrete up to 18 in. (45 cm) thick can be examined
without difficulty.
NDT: Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity

General • IS 13311, Part 1

• Equipment

• Electric pulse generator


• Transducer (a pair)
• Amplifier
• Timing device

Source: ndtjames.com
Source: fprimec.com
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test

• Pulse generator generates a pulse


– Longitudinal waves
– Shear waves
– Surface waves

• Longitudinal waves travel the fastest


– Detected by the transducer
– Time of arrival indicates the quality of concrete

• If the speed is high the concrete is good, and vice-versa


Accuracy= ±20 per cent
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test

Source: IS 13311, Part I


Strength vs. pulse velocity pulse velocity vs.
porosity

Source 13 : file.scirp.org
Source: ndt.net
Influence of test conditions

• Surface conditions – Smooth vs. uneven

• Moisture content – Pulse velocity goes up with increased moisture • ~2%

• Dimensions – Path length, transverse length – Function of transducer


frequency

• Temperature of concrete
– Reduced velocity at high temperatures • ~5%
– Increases velocity at freezing temperatures • ~7.5%

• Stress – Higher stress leads to micro-cracks and reduction in velocity

• Reinforcing bars – Pulse velocity is higher in the bars compared to concrete

• Placement of transducers
• Placement of transducers

Source: 3.imimg.com Source: aaryans.in

Source: i.ytimg.com
NDT: Rebound Hammer Test

General • IS 13311, Part 2


• Equipment – Schmidt Rebound Hammer
Surface hardness test

• Primarily tests the surface hardness – Can be used to determine uniformity of


concrete
• Rebound of elastic mass depends on hardness of surface
• Relation between rebound number and strength of surface

• Basic idea
– Input: impact energy
– Output: amount of indentation or rebound

Source: pcte.com.au
Components of Hammer
NDT: Rebound Hammer Test

Source: i.ytimg.com
Rebound hammer test

• Results are affected by the following factors

– Amount of aggregates
– Concrete uniformity vs. strength
– Age and type of curing
– Surface smoothness
– Type of cement used
– Size , shape and rigidity of the specimen
– Moisture

• A moist surface produces lesser rebound number

• Concrete which is initially hard gets carbonated over time due to surface
moisture
Limitations and Advantages of Rebound hammer test

The Schmidt hammer provides an inexpensive, simple and quick method


of obtaining an indication of concrete strength

Accuracy of ±15 to ±20 per cent is possible only for specimens cast cured
and tested under conditions for which calibration curves have been
established.
Thank you

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