Non-destructive tests of in-situ materials Strength Indices

Wonsiri Punurai Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University

Aspects of concrete construction

Durability Assessment Service Life Estimation Fast-Track Construction Structural Integrity Water permeation; UPV; Schmidt hammer; Impact Echo; Resonant Frequency; Coring; Flaw Detection; Width of Cracks; Depth, Size, Location Reinforcement; Corrosion Survey Maturity; Early Strength Cl2 diffusion; Air Content; Alkali-ASR; Shrinkage

Carbonation; Half Cell; Cl2

Load- Test Deformation

Structural Monitoring

Repair Quality Bonding

Why do we need to measure Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) ?

Evaluating the uniformity within a member. Locating internal voids and cracks. Estimating severity of deterioration. Estimating depth of fire damage. Evaluating effectiveness of crack repairs. Identifying anomalous regions in drilled cores. Estimate early-age strength (with correlation).

Ultrasonics

Ultrasonic Measurement Principles

Piezoelectric transducers

Signal Generation

Signal Detection

Signal Analysis

Signal amplitude (Volts)

sample Typical Time-domain Signal

time

How do we measure UPV ?

PUNDIT- Portable Ultrasonic Nondestructive Digital Indicating Tester. ASTM C 597, BS 1881-203
Couplant Measuring Unit

Calibration Bar

Transducers (24 kHz-1MHz)

Transducers

p,,

Materials Concrete Timber Ceramics Graphite Cast iron

Frequency (kHz) 24 - 150 150 - 220 24 - 220 200 - 1 1

General Guidelines:

Use lower frequencies for large, dense, and heterogeneous test objects and higher frequencies for smaller, less dense and more homogeneous test objects.

PUNDIT Measuring Principle

Set reference (using a reference bar) Range selection 0.1sec (0 to 400 mm) The pulse is introduced into a member and is received. The transit time is determined by the instrument. The pulse velocity (Cd) = distance (L) / transit time (T).

scattering

diffraction

Longitudinal UPV-dynamic elastic modulus

reflecting

Methods of Propagating Pulses

Through transmission (direct) Most satisfactory (Max Energy, VD)

P- or S- wave

Diffuse or Scattering (indirect) surface wave

Some satisfactory (1-2% energy) VD = 1.05VL

Influence of test conditions

Path length.
negligible if not less than 100 mm when 20 mm size aggregate is used. negligible if not less than 150 mm when 40 mm size aggregate is used.

Lateral dimensions of the tested specimen. Moisture content of concrete. Presence of reinforcing steel.
Effect of specimen dimensions on pulse transmission
Pulse velocity in concrete (in km/s)

Effect of temperature on pulse transmission

Correction to the measured UPV

Transducer frequency kHz 24 54 82 150

Cd=3.5

Cd=4.0

Cd=4.5

Temperature

Type of Concrete

Minimum permissible lateral specimen dimension

Air-dried
oC

Water-saturated % +4 +1.7 0 -1 -7.5

mm 146 65 43 23

mm 167 74 49 27

mm 188 83 55 30

60 40 20 0 -4

% +5 +2 0 -0.5 -1.5

Schmidt hammer

Testing features
Schmidt Hammer is designed specifically for the NDT in situ testing of concrete structures. Rebound hardness is directly related to the compressive strengths , water content and local variation of the tested materials. ASTM C805: Standard test method for rebound number of hardened concrete. BS1881-202: 1986 Testing concrete. Recommendations for surface hardness testing by rebound hammer.

Testing principle
Load device by pressing the tip of the impact plunger against a solid surface. Slide out the housing until its fully extended. The plunger is pressed against the surface to be tested which fired a percussion weight against the rear of the plunger and rebounds. The maximum height of rebound is recorded on a scale and can be converted to a compressive strength via conversion tables.

Rebound hammer conversion table

Resonant Frequency Test

Why do we need to perform Resonant Frequency Test ?

To determine the dynamic elastic properties (modulus of elasticity, poisson ratio, shear modulus of elasticity). To monitoring damage as a result of exposure to accelerated weather. Quality Control of manufactured products.

ERUDITE
Acoustic Vibrator Accelerometer Generator

ERUDITE determines the resonant frequency of prismatic or cylindrical specimens (ASTM C 215, Test Method for Fundamental Transverse, Longitudinal, and Torsional Resonant frequencies of Concrete Specimens). The frequency of the acoustic vibrator is varied continuously and the corresponding amplitude of specimen vibration is monitored. When the specimen is driven at its resonant frequency the amplitude of specimen vibration is at its maximum.

ERUDITE Measuring Principle

Modulus of Elasticity, ED
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

modulus of rigidity, GD

An acoustic vibrator is positioned on one side of the specimen. An accelerometer is mounted on another side. A generator drives the acoustic vibrator at a given frequency The vibration of the specimen is measured by the accelerometer. The frequency of the acoustic vibrator is varied continuously. The corresponding amplitude of specimen vibration is monitored. When the specimen is driven at its resonant frequency fr - the amplitude of specimen vibration is at its maximum.

Measurement of Resonant frequency (fr) Inverse of Damping Coefficient (Q)

Resonant frequency (fr) Inverse of Damping Coefficient (Q) (Damage or imperfection Factor)

Where

fr = the resonant frequency (mode dependent) at which the amplitude drops to 0.707 fr (the 3 dB frequencies).

f1, f2 = frequencies at either side of fr

When the specimen is driven at fr the vibration amplitude is at maximum. 1. 2.

Damping Coefficient Energy Dissipated Per Cycle

A material with high damping (good for seismic applications) has a low Q-factor. The resonant frequency and Q-value will decrease as the specimen is damaged.

Calculation: the Dynamic modulus of elasticity, ED

For longitudinal mode in kg/cm2
ED =DW(fLr)2 Where

W = weight of specimen (kg) fLr = fund. longitudinal frequency (Hz) Dcylinder = 519.4x10-5 L/d2 (sec2/cm2) Dprism = 408x10-5 L/bt (sec2/cm2) L = length of specimen in cm d = diameter of specimen in cm t,b = dimensions of cross section of prism in cm

More equations for calculating the dynamic moduli of rigidity, density, and the dynamic Poissons ratio should be found in ASTM C 215

Measuring Procedure
Manual Mode
-

Automatic Mode
-

Setting up an experiment on an oscilloscope. Determine the range of frequencies for a certain type of specimen. Measuring fr and Q manually.

Measuring fr and Q automatically by sweeping through the range of frequencies up to 3 different bands.

Approximate Range of Frequency Selection (Hz) for Concrete

Size of specimen (mm)
150x150x750 150x150x700 100x100x750 100x100x500 100x100x300 150x300 cylinders

Longitudinal
1700-3000 2000-3200 1700-3000 3000-4500 5000-7000 5000-7000

Flexural
550-1050 600-1150 400-750 900-1500 2500-4500 2500-4500

Torsional
1150-1050 1200-1150 1150-1800 1800-2700 3000-4200 3000-4200

Estimation of fr from UPV measurement

This is just one of many guidelines for - specimens of unusual materials. - specimens with non standard length and cross section dimensions.

fLr

106 2 x PUNDIT Reading d <1 p

Hz

Using longitudinal mode

True when

Where: d = least lateral dimension, p=wavelength of ultrasonic pulse vibrations

Reference
ASTM C 597-83 (1991): Test for pulse velocity through concrete, ASTM, USA. BS 1881-203 (1986): Recommendations for measurement of velocity of ultrasonic pulses in concrete, BSI, UK. ASTM C215-91 (1991): Standard test method fundamental transverse, longitudinal, and torsional frequencies of concrete specimens, 1994 Annual book of ASTM standards, Vol. 04.02, ASTM Philadelphia, Pa., 120 125 ASTM C805: Standard test method for rebound number of hardened concrete. BS1881-202: 1986 Testing concrete Recommendations for surface hardness testing by rebound hammer.

See everyone in Soil Lab (1.00 pm)