REBOUND HAMMER TEST
METHOD STATEMENT
1.0 Introduction
The rebound hammer is one of the most popular
nondestructive testing methods used to
investigate concrete. Its popularity is due to its
relatively low cost and simple operating
procedures.
2.0 Principles of The Rebound Hammer
Ernst Schmidt, a Swiss engineer, developed the
modern rebound hammer in 1948. The rebound
hammer measures the surface hardness of the
concrete. This is accomplished by placing the
rebound hammer plunger against the concrete
surface and releasing a spring loaded weight. The
amount the plunger rebounds or bounces back is
measured. This rebound number is shown on a
scale and will be between 10 and 100. The
Impact Hammer is another name for Schmidt
Hammer.
Fig 01: The Equipment
The surface of concrete gets harder as concrete
gains strength; thus, we have a method of
estimating the strength of concrete. A low
rebound number will indicate that the surface of
the concrete is soft and the concrete is weak. A
high rebound number will indicate that the
concrete is hard and strong. Unfortunately, there
is no theoretical relationship between surface
hardness and the strength of concrete. Many
things can affect concrete surface hardness.
  Tel/fax: 0112 866640-1, piledynamic@gmail.com
  1
3.0 Factors That Affects Rebound Hammer
Numbers
Since the rebound hammer measures the surface
hardness of the concrete, it is important to
understand all the items that might affect surface
conditions of the concrete and thus, the rebound
hammer numbers. These factors include:
• Smoothness of the surface
• Size and shape of the concrete sample
• The rigidity of the test area
• Age of the concrete
• Surface moisture
• Internal moisture (moisture gradient)
• Coarse aggregates
• Type of cement
• Forms used
• Carbonation
• Location of the reinforcement
• Frozen concrete
For these reasons, the user of the rebound
hammer must follow exact procedures and use
engineering judgment.
4.0 Procedures for Rebound Hammer Testing
Fig 02: Procedure
ASTM C805, Standard Test for Rebound
Numbers of Hardened Concrete, provides some
standard procedures so that the user can have
consistency when using the rebound hammer.
Some of these standard procedures are:
• Not used to test frozen concrete.
• The test area must be at least 150 mm in
diameter and fixed rigidly within the
structure.
• The surface to be tested must be flat with no
loose mortar.
• The surface to be tested must be free from
water.
• If the layer of carbonated concrete is thick, it
shall be removed before testing.
• The hammer must be held in the same
direction — horizontal, upward, downward
and it should always be at a right angle to the
surface being tested.
• Not used to test over reinforcement with a
cover of less than 20 mm.
• If estimating concrete strength takes at least
two cores from six locations that have
different rebound hammer number.
• Take 10 rebound hammer readings at each
test area. All individual readings should be at
least 25 mm apart.
• Any reading that is over six units from the
average is discarded and calculates the
average of the remaining readings.
• If two units are over six units from the
average, all the readings are discard and the
test is repeated.
investigated. If the rebound numbers for concrete
being investigated are approximately the same or
higher than the concrete that had met the project
specifications, the tested concrete can be
determined to be acceptable. If the rebound
numbers in the area being tested were lower, then
additional investigations would need to be done
by the engineer.
7.0 Engineering Judgment and Concluding
Remarks
The rebound hammer must be recognized for
what it is able to measure — the surface hardness
of concrete. When used as part of an investigative
process that includes an understanding of
concrete being tested, a visual inspection, and
documentation from cubes or cores, it can be an
excellent nondestructive testing method. It is an
instrument that requires engineering judgment to
interpret the reading and to accurately assess the
concrete. Engineering judgment can only be used
when an exact procedure sought as the one
outlined in ASTM C805 is followed.
PILE DYNAMICS PVT LTD
No 26, Field View,
Kohuwala, Nugegoda,
Sri Lanka

5.0 Rebound Hammer To Locate Requiring PDL BOUNCING HAMMER TEST

Additional Investigations Project details:
Project:
Client:
One of the ways to use the rebound hammer is to Hammer Details:
locate those areas that may need additional Model:
Serial No.:
investigation. In this procedure the round hammer Capacity:
is used at several locations to identify those areas Resolution:
that have a lower rebound number. Since the Readability:
Test data:
structure would have the same mixture, curing Element of Structure: Date:
history, moisture content, etc., the rebound Concrete Grade:
hammer can identify those areas that appear to Direction of Impact:
have the weakest concrete (lowest rebound Location
Readings: 1
hammer number). 2


3
6.0 Comparison of Rebound Numbers Results 4
5
6
Another procedure used is to compare rebound 7
numbers of the concrete, which is acceptable 8
9
from a recent placement. This part of the 10
structure has the concrete already evaluated by Average Reading:
cores, cylinders or cubes and the concrete Compressive
strength:
strength met the project requirements. In this Tested by: Checked by:
procedure you would determine the rebound
numbers of the concrete known to be acceptable. Table 01: Sample Record Sheet
The investigator would then test the concrete with
the rebound hammer that needed to be

  Tel/fax: 0112 866640-1, piledynamic@gmail.com     2