NON DESTRUCTIVE AND SEMI -DESTRUCTIVE TESTING INSTRUMENTS

Sudarshan S Iyengar
Senior Director, Civil Aid Technoclinic Pvt. Ltd.

Abstract

Several instruments are used for conducting Non-Destructive testing of concrete. The readings of the
instruments are calibrated with reference to the results obtained by conducting tests on concrete
samples in the laboratory. In addition to Non-Destructive testing some Semi-Destructive testing may
also become necessary to arrive at the probable strength of concrete. The paper discusses the
usefulness of various instruments of Non-Destructive and Semi-Destructive testing of concrete and
also their limitations.

General

Non Destructive testing methods have been in use for more than four decades. Over the years
considerable developments have taken place and it is now considered as a powerful method for
evaluating existing concrete structures with regard to their strength, durability and quality of
hardened concrete, apart from crack depth, progressive deterioration, voids, location of
reinforcement, cover concrete etc.

Though NDT methods are relatively simple to perform, the analysis and interpretation of test results
are not so easy. In the NDT methods attempts are made to measure some properties of concrete
from which an estimate of strength, durability and elastic behavior of material are obtained. Further,
in NDT the members are not loaded to failure and the results obtained from testing are not absolute
values of the properties of materials.

Comprehensive laboratory correlations on the field materials have to be established between

strength parameters to be predicted and the results of in-situ NDT. Some times in addition to NDT
results, semi destructive testing (SDT) like concrete core testing, Pull-out / Capo test, Windsor probe
test and even load test may become necessary. The concrete core testing is absolutely necessary in
situations where NDT results indicate internal cracking or zone of weaker concrete. Where cores
could not be extracted from the RC members (viz., beam column junctions / slender member /
heavily loaded members etc) Capo test may be conducted for in-situ strength estimation.

The commonly adopted NDT methods are:

Rebound Hammer test
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test
Covemeter test
Half-cell Potential Measurement test
Impact echo / pulse echo test
Ground Penetrating Radar test

The commonly adopted SDT methods are:

Concrete core test
Capo test
Windsor probe test
Load test for flexural member

The commonly adopted other methods are:

Carbonation test

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Non Destructive And Semi -Destructive Testing Instruments Sudarshan S Iyengar

Chloride determination test

Sulphate determination test
Determination of pH

NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

Rebound Hammer Test

The most commonly used method employs Schmidt Rebound Hammer, which consists of a spring
controlled hammer that slides on a plunger. The hammer impacts against the concrete surface and
the spring controlled mass rebounds, taking a rider along with it along a guide scale which is used as
rebound number.

The Schmidt hammer is simple and the method provides a quick and inexpensive means of checking
uniformity of in-place hardened concrete. However, the results of the tests are affected by
smoothness, degree of carbonation and moisture condition of surfaces, type of coarse aggregate in
concrete. If properly calibrated hammer is used, the accuracy of predicting concrete strength is 25
percent.

The Rebound Hammer tests are conducted generally for the determination of uniformity of quality
concrete, strength development monitoring, in-situ strength estimation, testing of precast elements
prior to erection, relative strength determination of structural members, determining stripping time
of formwork etc.

The most popular equipment used for this test is Schmidt Rebound Hammer of Proceq, Switzerland.

Method of testing

For assessment of surface hardness & strength of cover / surface concrete, rebound hammer test
will be conducted on the concrete surface at five different positions depending on the location of
the concrete surface

Test positions:

a. Horizontal
b. Vertically upwards (+90o)
c. Vertically downwards (-90o)
d. Inclined upwards (+45o)
e. Inclined downwards (-45o)

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Rebound Hammer test on RC member

After discarding the freak values and applying correction factor for position of Rebound Hammer
average rebound number will be worked and the same is correlated with standard values for
estimation of in-situ strength of concrete near to surface.

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

The Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity method consists of measuring the time travel of an Ultrasonic wave
passing through the concrete. The times of travel between the initial onset and reception of the
Pulse are measured electronically. The path length between transducers, divided by the time of
travel gives the average velocity of wave propagation. The relationship between pulse velocity and
strength are affected by a number of variables such as the age of concrete, moisture condition,
aggregate / cement ratio, type of cement and aggregate, location of reinforcement etc. The method
is therefore normally recommended for the purpose of quality control apart from use of this method
for detecting the presence of voids, honeycombing, detecting cracks, determination of modulus of
elasticity of concrete.

UPV instrument PUNDIT lab (Proceq)

There are three methods which are generally adopted at site depending on the accessibility of
structural members.

a. Direct transmission
b. Indirect transmission; and
c. Semi-direct transmission

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Non Destructive And Semi -Destructive Testing Instruments Sudarshan S Iyengar

Direct transmission method Semi-direct transmission method

Direct method of test Semi-direct method of test

In-direct or surface transmission method In-direct method of test

Average pulse velocity is worked out and the same is correlated with standard quality grading chart
to know the quality of homogeneity of interior concrete.
Covermeter test

Covermeters are electromagnetic devices consisting of a search head and a control box. The
Covermeter test is used for assess the concrete cover and mapping of rebars. It can also be used for
estimating the size / dia of rebars. The rebars which are close to surface can be detected however, it
may not detect second layer of rebars if any. Further, if rebars are closely spaced / congested then
the estimation of number of rebars may not be reliable.

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Non Destructive And Semi -Destructive Testing Instruments Sudarshan S Iyengar

The accuracy of data on rebar diameter, generally vary in the range of 10 to 20%.

Covermeter Profometer 5+, Proceq Scanning of rebars in RC member

Ferroscan - Hilti Image scan

Half-Cell Potential Measurement test

The Half-cell Potential measurement test essentially consists of measurement of absolute potential
at the concrete surface with a reference electrode. The measured absolute potential considered to
be the best criterion for assessing the corrosion status of the embedded rebars.

Corrosion Analyser - Proceq Measurement of corrosion in rebar

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The measured values are correlated with standard values for determination of corrosion in rebars
for RC members.

However, the corrosion of rebars shall be confirmed by chloride and pH value tests by conducting
further chemical analysis of concrete for determination of pH value, chloride and sulphate content in
concrete.

Impact echo test

In this method, the impacting device such as hammer will be struck on the concrete surface. The
sound waves that reflect off or other features are picked up by a recovery receiving probe and
conveyed to signal processor.

From this, the wave form is analysed at the signal processor and amplitude and travel time of waves
are evaluated for determination of homogeneity and integrity of concrete.

OSCILLOSCOPE

TRIGGER INPUT

AMPLIFIER
AND
COMPUTER

TRANSMITTER OR PULSE HONEYCOMBS

SOURCE WITH
TRIGGERING DEVICE

TRANSDUCER
OR
RECEIVER

FLAOW

CONCRETE ELEMENT CRACKS

Ground Penetrating Radar

GPR is a non-destructive testing method that can be used to gather information on sub- surface
elements in roads, bridges, sports grounds, golf coarses, cemeteries and all reinforced concrete
structures. It can accurately locate metallic and non metallic reinforcements and pipes below
concrete slabs. In addition, GPR detect flaws in concrete structures. It is a geophysical method that
uses radar pulses to image subsurface. GPR uses high frequency polarized radio waves for
transmitting them into ground. When the wave hits a buried object or a boundary with different

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dielectric constants, the receiving antenna records variations in the reflected return signal. The GPR
equipment normally consists of a transmitter and receiver antenna, a radar control unit and suitable
data storage and display devices.

GPR is well suited for structural investigations. The high frequency system is capable of generating
high resolution 2D and 3D representations of features of scanned surface.

Some of the applications of GPR are;

Determining concrete thickness and cover concrete.

Locating rebars, post tensioned cables, conduits, metal and PVC pipes.
Locating pipes, water lines, storm and sewer system buried in soil.
Detecting irrigation and septic field systems, underground storage tanks and underground
utilities.

The Penetradar Integrated Radar Inspection System (IRIS)

SEMI-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

Extraction of cores and testing

Cores test is one of the most appropriate method to assess the strength, homogeneity and quality of
interior concrete.

Electrically driven motor provided with diamond / TC segment core bit are generally used for
extraction of cores.

The maximum size of coarse aggregate used in concrete decides the criteria for selecting the dia of
core to be extracted. Core will be extracted after scanning the concrete surface for avoiding existing
rebars interference during core extraction.

The both ends of the extracted cores will be trimmed and capped with sulpher / high strength free
flow grout or epoxy to ensure the ends are even and horizontal.

After ensuring the strength of capped material, the core shall be subjected to compressive strength
test in a testing machine.

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Non Destructive And Semi -Destructive Testing Instruments Sudarshan S Iyengar

Core test is the most acceptable method especially when there is dispute regarding strength of
concrete. Core test results are also used for calibrating other NDT equipments.

Extraction of concrete core sample from RC column Capping of core specimen

Computerized CTM

Capo test

In this type of Semi-Destructive test, appropriate dia and depth of

hole are made using a special tool. The specially designed tool
with enlarged mouth will be driven into the hole and thoroughly
fastened. Then the insert will be pulled off with hydraulic system.
The required force to pull the inserts along with concrete is
measured and correlated with calibration chart furnished by the
manufacturer for the test equipment for assessment of strength of
concrete. This test is generally conducted when the core test cannot
be conducted Capo test

Windsor probe test

In this type of Semi-Destructive test, a standard steel pin is driven

into the surface of concrete with a special tool (gun) operated by
spring charge. The depth of penetration is measured. Since the depth
of penetration is inversely proportional to compressive strength,
the device provides a fast and safe way of determining the strength
of concrete

The device can also be used for testing of mortar in masonry joints.
Windsor probe test

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One should be very careful while using this device as there will be chances of causing injury to the
neighboring person if it is not held properly during testing.

Load testing of structure

If the NDT and SDT results fail to give satisfy information regarding the strength and quality, then
load test will be conducted and it is most acceptable method of test for flexural member only.

The structure is subjected to

load equal to full dead
load of structure plus 1.25
timesthe imposed load for
a period of 24 hours and
imposed load shall be
removed. The deflection
due to imposed loading
shall be recorded and
recovery of deflection is
calculated

Measurement of deflection by Measurement of deflection by

Deflectometer during load test LVDT during load test

Load test on deck slab of major bridge

Load test on PSC deck of Railway bridge

Load test on RC floor slab of building Load test on deck slab of major bridge

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The commonly adopted other methods are:

Carbonation test

The carbon dioxide and water pebbles present in atmosphere forms carbonic acid. The calcium
hydroxide present in the concrete reacts with carbonic acid to form calcium carbonate and resulting
in reduction of alkalinity of concrete. If the concrete is pervious the carbonation reaction continuous
and reaches the concrete surrounding rebars resulting drop in pH value of concrete.

To measure the depth of penetration of carbonation in concrete 20 to 40 mm dia core samples are
extracted from the members and immediately sprayed with phenolphthalein solution on the
concrete surface commencing from external surface to interior concrete.

Extraction of smaller core sample Spraying of phenolphthalein solution

from member

If sprayed concrete surface turns pink, it is considered as non carbonated. If the concrete surface
does not turns pink, then it is considered carbonated.

The depth of carbonation is measured in mm from the external surface.

Chloride content test

This test will be carried out on the concrete samples collected

from the members to find out the extent of chlorides in
concrete.

The presence of higher amount of chlorides in concrete

surrounding rebars will result in corrosion. The process of
corrosion will be faster especially in the presence of moisture.

The quantity of chlorides in concrete is determined generally by

well defined chemical analysis in the laboratory and expressed in Chloride analysing kit
term of percentage of chlorides by weight of concrete. There are
standard chloride analysing kit also available for carrying out this test at site to get faster
information.

Sulphate determination test

This test will be carried out on the concrete sample collected from the members to find out the

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extent of sulphates in concrete. The presence of higher amount of sulphates in concrete will result in
reaction of calcium present in cement with sulphates, resulting in expansion and disruption of
concrete. This in turn results in corrosion of rebars.

The quantity of sulphates in concrete is determined generally by well defined chemical analysis in
the laboratory and is expressed in term of percentage of sulphates by weight of concrete.

Determination of pH

This test will be carried out on the concrete samples collected from the members to find out the
level of pH in concrete. The level of pH in concrete will indicate the status of corrosion of rebars in
concrete.

Conclusion:

In general, there are many types of NDT and SDT methods available for evaluating strength of
structural members. Depending on the requirement, any one test or more than one test can be
conducted to get the required information regarding the quality / strength of concrete. Further,
interpretation of test results requires competent persons to arrive at acceptable evaluation of
concrete regarding the quality and strength of concrete.

References:

IS: 13311-(Part II)-1992-(Reaffirmed in 2008), IS: 13311-(Part-1)-1992-(Reaffirmed in 2008), BS:1881-

(Part 204), ASTM-C-876-71-(Reaffirmed in 1999), IS: 456-2000 and IS: 516-1959-(Reaffirmed in
1999), IS: 1199-1959-(Reaffirmed in 1999), IS: 456-2000, ASTM C42 77, ASTM C 1383, ASTM
C 900, ASTM C 803, IS: 456-2000 and IS: 800-2007, Ref: BS: 1881-(Part 201)-1986, Ref: BS: 1881-
(Part 124)-1988, Technical paper Built Expressions magazine October & November 2012.
Reference manual for field engineers on building constructions Task Force- Govt. of Karnataka.

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