Ultrasonic pulse

velocity test

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An ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test is

an in-situ, nondestructive test to check the
quality of concrete and natural rocks. In
this test, the strength and quality of
concrete or rock is assessed by measuring
the velocity of an ultrasonic pulse passing
through a concrete structure or natural
rock formation.

This test is conducted by passing a pulse

of ultrasonic through concrete to be tested
and measuring the time taken by pulse to
get through the structure. Higher velocities
indicate good quality and continuity of the
material, while slower velocities may
indicate concrete with many cracks or
voids.

Ultrasonic testing equipment includes a

pulse generation circuit, consisting of
electronic circuit for generating pulses and
a transducer for transforming electronic
pulse into mechanical pulse having an
oscillation frequency in range of 40 kHz to
50 kHz, and a pulse reception circuit that
receives the signal.[1][2]

The transducer, clock, oscillation circuit,

and power source are assembled for use.
After calibration to a standard sample of
material with known properties, the
transducers are placed on opposite sides
of the material. Pulse velocity is measured
by a simple formula:

.[3][4][5][6]
Applications
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity can be used to:

Evaluate the quality and homogeneity of

concrete materials
Predict the strength of concrete
Evaluate dynamic modulus of elasticity
of concrete,
Estimate the depth of cracks in
concrete.
Detect internal flaws, cracks,
honeycombing, and poor patches.

The test can also be used to evaluate the

effectiveness of crack repair.[7] Ultrasonic
testing is an indicative and other tests
such as destructive testing must be
conducted to find the structural and
mechanical properties of the
material.[8][9][10][11]

Regulation and standards

A procedure for ultrasonic testing is
outlined in ASTM C597 - 09.[7]

In India, ultrasonic testing is conducted

according to IS 13311-1992. This test
indicates the quality of workmanship and
to find the cracks and defects in
concrete.[12][13][14][15][16][17]

Usage
This test is recommended in some of
testing done by the Indian government to
certify and check construction of
residential buildings.[18][19][20][21][22][23]

References
1. "Ultrasonic Pulse Echo for Concrete
Testing Using the Pundit PL-200PE
Model by Proceq : Quote, RFQ, Price
and Buy" . AZoM.com. Retrieved
2019-04-04.
2. Leeb, Rockwell & UCI. "Equotip
portable hardness testers" .
proceq.com.
3. "A COMPARISON BETWEEN DIRECT
AND INDIRECT METHOD OF
ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY IN
DETECTING CONCRETE DEFECTS" .
www.ndt.net.
4. "Concrete testing by Ultrasonic Pulse
Velocity (UPV) - Iamcivilengineer" . 13
November 2013.
5. "Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method" .
www.engineeringcivil.com.
6. "What is Ultrasonic Testing of
Concrete for Compressive Strength?" .
28 February 2016.
7. "ASTM C597 - 09 Standard Test
Method for Pulse Velocity Through
Concrete" . astm.org.
8. Singh, Gurpreet; Siddique, Rafat
(January 2012). "Effect of waste
foundry sand (WFS) as partial
replacement of sand on the strength,
ultrasonic pulse velocity and
permeability of concrete".
Construction and Building Materials.
26 (1): 416–422.
doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.0
41 .
 9. Komlos,̆ K.; Popovics, S.;
Nürnbergerová, T.; Babál, B.; Popovics,
J.S. (January 1996). "Ultrasonic pulse
velocity test of concrete properties as
specified in various standards".
Cement and Concrete Composites. 18
(5): 357–364. doi:10.1016/0958-
9465(96)00026-1 .
10. Qasrawi, Hisham Y. (May 2000).
"Concrete strength by combined
nondestructive methods simply and
reliably predicted". Cement and
Concrete Research. 30 (5): 739–746.
doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(00)00226-X .
11. Vasconcelos, Graça; Lourenço, Paulo
B.; Alves, C. A. Simões; Pamplona, J.
(4 April 2019). "Prediction of the
mechanical properties of granites by
ultrasonic pulse velocity and Schmidt
hammer hardness" – via
repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt.
12. ftp://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S03/
is.13311.1.1992.pdf
13. Illston, J. M.; Domone, Peter (11
September 2002). Construction
Materials: Their Nature and Behaviour,
Third Edition . CRC Press.
ISBN 9780203478981 – via Google
Books.
14. Aguado, A.; Gettu, R.; Shah, S. (10
November 1994). Concrete
Technology: New Trends, Industrial
Applications: Proceedings of the
International RILEM workshop . CRC
Press. ISBN 9780419201502 – via
Google Books.
15. Richardson, J. G. (2 September 2003).
Supervision of Concrete Construction
2 . CRC Press. ISBN 9780203210055
– via Google Books.
16. Tse, Peter W.; Mathew, Joseph; Wong,
King; Lam, Rocky; Ko, C. N. (9
December 2014). Engineering Asset
Management - Systems, Professional
Practices and Certification:
Proceedings of the 8th World
Congress on Engineering Asset
Management (WCEAM 2013) & the 3rd
International Conference on Utility
Management & Safety (ICUMAS) .
Springer. ISBN 9783319095073 – via
Google Books.
17. Neville (4 April 1963). Properties Of
Concrete, 4/E . Pearson Education.
ISBN 9788177585872 – via Google
Books.
18. "Technical Advisory Committee comes
to rescue of residents who feared they
might lose their homes to
redevelopment" . DNA India. 22
January 2015.
19. Ahmedabad Mirror (Sep 9, 2014).
"Shoddy job puts builders in the
dock" . Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved
Apr 6, 2019.
20. "Civic chief wants dilapidated bldgs in
island city to be vacated within 7 days
- Times of India" . The Times of India.
21. "Civic body to get expert hand for
demolition drive in Kolhapur - Times of
India" . The Times of India.
 22. " 'Mandatory soil testing not done
before start of work' - Times of India" .
The Times of India.
23. http://tbk.vcp.ir/page-Ultrasonic-
26407.html

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