APPLICATION NOTE

Using PUNDIT and PUNDITplus for strength measurement

in precast concrete production
The PUNDIT family of instruments provide a well established method for the assessment
of the strength of concrete and is being used by several of the UK’s leading precast
concrete product manufacturers.

One such manufacturer supplies a range of

precast, prestressed concrete lintels to builders
merchants for the trade and DIY.

They have been using the PUNDIT for many

years to check the strength of their lintels. If the
pre-tensioning wire is released too soon, the
wire is pulled back through the concrete and the
whole batch of lintels has to be scrapped.

They have correlated the cube crushing

strength of a series of cubes of different ages
with the ultrasonic pulse velocity measured
using the PUNDIT. Using the correlation curve,
it is then a simple matter of using the PUNDIT
to measure the pulse velocity in manufactured
lintels and to read the strength from the chart.

By checking the pulse velocity and using the

strength correlation technique, they can check Lintel casting in operation
that the concrete has reached sufficient
strength to allow them to release the wire tension.

The techniques for strength estimation are well established and are included in BS 1881:
Part 203 Recommendations for measurement of velocity of ultrasonic pulses in concrete.
The technique is also given extensive treatment in Prof. John Bungey’s book ‘Testing
Concrete in Structures’.

The PUNDIT and PUNDITplus are valuable tools for quality control and assurance in the
precast product market. They can save valuable time and money when used to check
product for strength development.

Application Note AN02

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