1

The major objective of this virtual meeting is to introduce the standards developed by b ASTM Subcommittee C09 64 of Committee C09 on Concrete and C S b itt C09.64 f C itt C t d Concrete t Aggregates.

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There are additional references to provide more information on the methods to be discussed. T di d Two of th f these references are reports b ACI Committee 228 on f t by C itt Nondestructive Testing of Concrete. ACI 228.1R covers methods to estimate inplace strength, and ACI 228.2R deals with other nondestructive test methods.

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ASTM C215 is a laboratory method for measuring the resonant frequency of test specimens. T i Two methods may b used: f th d be d forced resonance and impact resonance. d di t

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This is a schematic of the forced resonance method. The specimen is vibrated at different frequencies and the amplitude of the vibration is measured. A meter diff tf i d th lit d f th ib ti i d t indicates the vibration amplitude. When the applied frequency is the resonant frequency, the amplitude of vibration will be at its maximum value.

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This shows the principle of the impact resonance method. The specimen is struck with a small hammer and the resulting vibration is measured b a t ith ll h d th lti ib ti i d by transducer. Th d The signal is analyzed and the resonant frequency of the specimen is determined. The impact method is simpler and faster to use than the forced resonance method.

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The method allows for measuring the resonant frequency for three vibrational modes: l d longitudinal, fl it di l flexural, and t i l d torsional. F l From th measured f the d frequency, th the shape, and the mass of specimen, we can calculate the dynamic modulus of elasticity.

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The method is used to monitor changes to specimens exposed to deterioration mechanisms. h i The dynamic modulus is greater than the static modulus measured by ASTM C469. Results depend on how specimen is made. Results from different specimens should not be compared.

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This shows an example of a system for the impact resonance method. On the right are th results of th the lt f three t t Th graphs are amplitude versus f tests. The h lit d frequency and th d the peak corresponds to the resonant frequency. The test has excellent repeatability.

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ASTM C597 measures the time for a pulse of vibrational energy to travel over a known path l k th length. th

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The instrumentation includes two transducers held on opposite sides of a member. A grease-like material i used t couple th t lik t i l is d to l the transducers so th t the vibrational d that th ib ti l energy enters the member. The control unit includes a pulser and a timer. The pulser excites the transmitter and the timer measures the travel time. The pulse velocity is calculated from the travel time and distance between the transducers.

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This is an example of an instrument for measuring travel time. The two graphs illustrate how t ill t t h travel ti l time i measured. Wh the signal i th receiver reaches a is d When th i l in the i h threshold level, the timer shuts off and the elapsed time is displayed on the unit. The units are in microseconds.

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The direct path is the best method, but when it is not possible a semi-direct path is acceptable but the effective path length is not known precisely and th amplitude of t bl b t th ff ti th l th i tk i l d the lit d f the received signal is reduced.

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The pulse velocity is a function of the elastic constants and density of the concrete as i di t d by the equation. indicated b th ti The method is useful to assess the uniformity and relative quality of concrete in a structure. Moisture content affects the velocity. There is a minimum specimen size that can be tested, which is based on the frequency of the transducers.

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Path length has to be measured accurately and good coupling is needed. Not reliable for estimating strength or assessing in-place elastic modulus. The method can be used in the field and in the laboratory. Need to avoid bars aligned with travel path.

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This shows how the method is used to assess uniformity. A grid is marked on opposite f it faces of the member. M f th b Measurements are done at each grid point. t d t h id i t

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We plot the velocity contours and the uniformity can be assessed. Note that in i most members th b tt t b the bottom will have a hi h velocity d t b tt ill h higher l it due to better compaction.

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Test Method C803/C803M measures the resistance to penetration of a steel rod or a smaller pin th t i d i ll i that is driven i t th concrete. It can b used t estimate i l into the t be d to ti t in-place strength using a previously established strength relationship.

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This shows the driver and the probe that will driven into the concrete. The driver is a gun.

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This shows the two types of probes that are used, and the explosive charge used to drive d i a probe i t th concrete. b into the t The upper probe is for lightweight concrete or low strength concrete.

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The driver has to be pressed against a template in order to be fired.

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This shows the probe after it has been embedded into the concrete. The exposed length of the probe is measured. The stronger is the concrete, the greater is th l th f th b i d Th t i th t th t i the exposed length.

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This is a cylinder that was cut in half after a penetration test. The initial energy of the th probe is absorbed by friction, energy to fracture the coarse aggregate, and b i b b d b f i ti t f t th t d energy to fracture the mortar. Of these, only the fracture of mortar is related to concrete strength. For equal concrete strength, penetration is affected by the aggregate type.

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The penetration method can be used to assess uniformity or locate deteriorated concrete. t It can be used to estimate strength with a previously established relationship. As mentioned, penetration is affected by aggregate type. Surface damage has to be repaired for tests on exposed surfaces.

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This is an example of a strength relationship. Penetration was measured on a slab specimen and th compressive strength was measure using companion cylinders. i d the i t th i i li d At different ages the penetration was measured and sets of cylinders were tested for compressive strength

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This shows how aggregate type affects the strength relationship. For a given value of exposed length, the harder th aggregate the l f dl th th h d the t th lower will b th concrete strength. ill be the t t th Thus is it very important to use same coarse aggregate to develop the strength relationship as will be used in the concrete to be placed in structure.

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ASTM C805/C805M is the rebound number test, which measures the rebound of a mass th t strikes a steel rod i contact with th concrete surface. that t ik t l d in t t ith the t f

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This slide shows a rebound number test being performed. The button is used to release the instrument from its locked position and to lock the instrument after a l th i t tf it l k d iti d t l k th i t t ft rebound test so that the rebound number can be read.

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This shows the operation of the rebound hammer. As the instrument is pushed, a spring attached t th h i tt h d to the hammer i stretched. Th h is t t h d The hammer i released and strikes th is l d d t ik the shoulder of the rod in contact with the concrete. The mass rebounds and the rebound distance is measured on a scale from 10 to 100. The test specimen has to be firmly supported so that it does not move during the test.

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The rebound number is read on the scale. The numbers represents the percentage of the original di t f th i i l distance from the h f th hammer t th shoulder of th rod. S a rebound to the h ld f the d So b d number of 41 means the rebound distance is 41 % of the original distance.

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This slide illustrates the effects of near surface conditions on rebound number. An aggregate particle below the surface will result in a high rebound; whereas an air t ti l b l th f ill lt i hi h b d h i bubble below the surface will result in a low rebound number. A rough textured surface will reduce the rebound number. A dry or carbonated surface layer will increase rebound number. The first two conditions can be taken care of by ignoring outliers. The latter two factors result in systematic errors.

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The rebound hammer is a good tool for assessing uniformity. To estimate in-place strength, the strength relationship has to be developed by measuring strengths of cores from the structure. As mentioned there are several factors that affect the rebound number. Rebound may be affected by the instrument that is used. Not suitable for acceptance or rejection of concrete.

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Here is an example of a strength relationship based on cores taken from the structure. For this example, the scatter is higher than for the probe penetration t t t t F thi l th tt i hi h th f th b t ti test example that was shown.

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In the pullout test, we measure the force required to extract an insert embedded in the th concrete. The measured force is an indicator of concrete strength. The insert t Th df i i di t f t t th Th i t can be cast into concrete during construction, in which case we can estimate strength for timing construction operations. Or the insert can be placed into hardened concrete for estimating in-place strength in existing construction.

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For the cast-in-place tests, the insert is attached to formwork and concrete is placed. l d

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When in-place strength is to be estimated, supporting hardware is removed, and the insert i pulled out using a t i t is ll d t i tension j k reacting against a b i ring. i jack ti i t bearing i

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Load is increased until a conical fragment is extracted. The maximum force attained during th d i the extraction is used to estimate the in-place compressive strength. Th t ti i dt ti t th i l i t th The reaction ring forces the failure to occur in well defined and repeatable pattern.

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On the left, we see the pullout test being performed. In this case, the insert was placed i th t surface of the slab. B t i th h dl a t l d in the top f f th l b By turning the handle, tensile f il force pulls on ll the shaft of the insert. On the right is the conical fragment that is extracted.

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The strength relationship must be established for the concrete to be used. The method can be used during construction to determine if the in-place strength is sufficient for different construction activities. The post-installed test can be used on existing structures.

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Consideration should be given to the fact that the bottom of a placement will have greater strength. t t th Because of the size of the insert that is commonly used, strength in the outer 25 mm is estimated. Careful planning is required so that tests will provide the best information. Not applicable to other types of pullout tests that do not produce the same failure mechanism.

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The strength relationship can be established by casting a set of cylinders and cubes. F d b Four i inserts are placed on th f t l d the faces of th cubes. f the b

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The photo shows a cube being made with an insert on each face. At regular time i t ti intervals, we measure the strength of at l l th t th f t least t t two cylinders and at l li d d t least t 8 pullout tests. At least 6 strength levels should be used.

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Here is an example of a strength relationship for a specific concrete. Note that the 6 strength levels are well distributed. The manufacturers recommended relationship is t th l l ll di t ib t d Th f t d d l ti hi i also shown, and it is consistent with the relationship obtained for this specific concrete mixture.

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The maturity method allows us to estimate the in-place strength based on measuring th i l i the in-place t temperature and using a previously established strength t d i i l t bli h d t th relationship.

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The maturity rule states that samples of the same concrete subjected to different curing t i temperatures will have approximately equal strength if they h t ill h i t l l t th th have th same the maturity index. The maturity index is the number calculated from the measured temperature. There are two ways to calculate the maturity index: Temperature-time factor Equivalent age at reference temperature

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The white curve represents the in-place temperature history of the concrete. The temperature-time factor is the area between this curve and a datum temperature, and it can be approximated as indicated by the equation.

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The maturity method is useful as a tool to estimate in-place strength during construction to determine whether concrete is strong enough for applying t ti t d t i h th t i t hf l i construction loads or stopping curing. It can also be used as a planning tool to estimate strength development under nonstandard curing temperatures.

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There are important limitations: Moisture must be present for hydration, so it only applies when concrete is being cured. It does not account for the effects of early-age temperature on long-term strength Because we only measure temperature, the maturity methods needs to be supplemented by other indications of potential strength of the concrete in the structure. Accuracy depends on using the correct maturity function.

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This slide summarizes how the maturity method is used. First, we have to establsih the t th strength-maturity relationship for the concrete mixture. Then we place th t it l ti hi f th t i t Th l temperature sensors in the structure and measure the temperature history. When a strength estimate is required, we read the maturity meter, and estimate the strength from the strength-maturity relationship.

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Here we see specimens being cured for determining the strength-maturity relationship. S l ti hi Some specimens are connected t maturity meters. At regular ti i t d to t it t l time intervals, we read the meter and measure the strength of at least two specimens. In this case, beams are also being tested.

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Here is an example of a strength-maturity relationship. Note that the strengths are evenly distributed. This curve is for a specific concrete t th l di t ib t d Thi i f ifi t mixture.

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Here we see an engineer reading the maturity meter to determine if the concrete is strong enough to remove the formwork. t ht th f k

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The last method to be discussed is the impact-echo method for measuring the thickness of plate-like elements. I thi k f l t lik l t Impact-echo is another method based on stress t h i th th d b d t waves.

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The impact-echo method uses a short duration impact to create a stress wave that travels i t th concrete and i reflected f t l into the t d is fl t d from th opposite surface. Th t the it f The transducer d measures the surface motion and by signal analysis we can determine the depth if we know the wave speed in the concrete.

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The method may be used to measure thickness of plate structures. There is systematic error in the computed thickness because of the digital data that is recorded. We need to consider wave speed variability within structure. The maximum and minimum thickness that can be measured depends on instrumentation; limits need to be established for the instrument that is used.

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Some other limitations: The method is not applicable when overlays are present. The concrete surface needs to be air dry. The sub-base has to have a slower wave speed than the concrete. It should not be used if the structure is subjected to other impacts during testing. It cannot be used when there is high electrical noise unless instrumentation is well shielded. hi ld d

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A plate is a structure in which the two lateral dimensions are at least six times the thickness. thi k

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The method is based on exciting the thickness frequency of the plate. The stress wave t travels b k and f th b t l back d forth between th t the two b boundaries. Th ti d i The time t t to travel l between the two surfaces is the path length divided by the wave speed. The thickness frequency is approximately then inverse of the travel time. This results in a simple relationship between the frequency and thickness.

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Two procedures are needed to measure thickness. Procedure A is used to determine th wave speed and P d t i the d d Procedure B i used t measure th d is d to the thickness frequency.

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This shows how the wave speed is determined by using two transducers and measuring the time it takes for the stress wave to travel from one transducer to the i th ti t k f th t t t lf t d t th other transducer.

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Here we see how this surface measurement of the wave speed is carried out. A very small i ll impactor i used. t is d

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Then we do tests at various points to measure the thickness frequencies and calculate th thi k l l t the thickness Thi d i h diff This devise has different size i t i impactors t create i t to t impacts t with different durations. The duration has to be matched with the thickness your are trying to measure. Smaller thickness requires a smaller impactor.

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This completes the review of the standards developed by ASTM Subcommittee C09.64. To C09 64 T summarize: i ASTM C215 is a laboratory method to evaluate deterioration of test specimens. ASTM C597 and C805 are good for evaluating uniformity. ASTM C803, C900, and C1074 can be used to estimate in-place strength. They require a strength relationship for the particular concrete. ASTM C1383 can be used to measure the thickness of plate-like structures. plate like

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Thank you for your attention, and thank you to all the individuals in ASTM and Colombia f C l bi for making this seminar possible. I will be glad to answer questions. ki thi i ibl ill b l d t ti