Non Destructive Testing in Concrete

Non Destructive Testing in Concrete
Concrete Construction (CENG 6024)
MSc Program in Construction Technology and Management
Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering
Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.)
August 2022
Concrete Testing
Non-Destructive
Testing
Concrete
Destructive
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 2
Non Destructive Testing (NDT)
Definition:
 NDT is the use of non invasive techniques to determine the
integrity of a material, component or structure or quantitatively
measure some characteristic of an object.
Considered as powerful method for evaluating concrete
structures with respect to strength, durability and quality of
hardened concrete.
Can detect crack depth, progressive deterioration, voids,
location of reinforcement, cover concrete, etc
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 3
Non Destructive Testing (NDT)
NDT methods – relatively simple to perform but the analysis and
interpretation of results are not so easy.
In NDT some properties of concrete are measured. These are

used to estimate the strength, elastic behavior and durability of
the material.
Comprehensive laboratory correlations have to be established

between ‘strength parameters’ to be predicted and the ‘results
of in-situ NDT’.
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 4
Deliverables of NDT
Elastic
Modulus
Density Strength
Cracks and Voids Reinforcement

Determination Location
Quality of
Workmanship
Surface Surface
Hardness Absorption
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 5
NDT-Importance
• Whether concrete is hardened properly and gained its

designed strength ?
• NDT is for both old and New Structures
• Exercise this without damaging the Structure…….
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 6
Cost Effectiveness
• Destructive testing
• Huge Cost initially has to put in for taking sample and then to test
it.
• NDT
• Its very easy and simple process and a lot many tests can be
performed on concrete less than single amount require for sampling
of concrete
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 7
Where to use NDT
• Quality control of Construction , in situ
• Confirming Workmanship
• Determining position of reinforcement
• Location of Cracks/Joints/Honeycombing
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 8
Purposes of NDT of concrete
Non-destructive testing of concrete is used for two main
purposes:
1. In laboratory studies, where it is particularly useful for

repeated testing of the same specimen to determine the
change of properties over time, for example to provide
information on degradation in different environments;
2. To assess the properties of concrete in a structure, for

example for compliance with specifications, after damage due
to fire or overload or when a change of use is proposed.
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 9
BASIC METHODS
• Visual Testing
• Schmidts Rebound Hammer Test
• Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test
• Permeability Test
• Half Cell Electric Potential Method
• Penetration Resistance Or Windsor Probe Test
• Covermeter Testing
Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 10
Commonly adopted NDT methods
• Rebound Hammer Test
• Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test
• Rebar Locater Test (Cover meter test)
• Ultrasonic pulse velocity test
• Electric Resistivity Meter Test
• Penetration Resistance Techniques
• Pullout tests
Commonly adopted SDT methods
• Concrete Core Test
• Capo Test
• Windsor Probe Test
• Load Test for Flexure Member
• Load Test for Piles
Commonly adopted OTHER methods
• Carbonation Test
• Chloride Determination Test
• Sulphate Determination Test
• Determination of pH
Cont…
• Radio Graphic Testing
• Sonic Method
• Carbonation Depth Measurement
• Tomographic Modelling
• Impact Eco-testing
• Ground Penetration Radar Testing
• Infrared Thermology
 Needs experience and well trained
Eye
 It is the predominant
nondestructive evaluation technique
for bridge and under water
concrete structures inspection.
Signs of Distress
• Cracks
• Pop-outs
• Spalling
• Dis-integration
• Color change
• Weathering
• Staining
• Surface blemishes
• Lack of Uniformity
Tools/ Equipment's
• Measuring Tape
• Ruler
• Marker
• Thermometer
• Anemometers
• In case access to site is not possible
Binoculars
Telescopes
Bore scopes
Endoscopes
fiberscopes
Methodology
Study Drawings
Preliminary Survey
Visual Inspection
Environmental Condition
Results
Defects Observed
• Cracks
• Surface pitting and Spalling
• Surface Staining
• Differential movements and Displacements
• Variation in algal and vegetable growth
• Surface voids
• Honeycombing
• Bleed Marks
• Constructional and Lift Joints
Advantages and limitation of VIT
Advantage
This technique is economical, and it neither time consuming

nor needs expensive and large number of equipments.
Limitation
The visual inspection depends on the personal experience.
Rebound Hammer Test
ASTM C 805, ACI 228.1R

The rebound hammer is a surface
hardness tester for which an
empirical correlation has been
established between strength and
rebound number.
Rebound Hammer Test
The rebound hammer method could be used for:
Assessing the likely compressive strength of concrete with the
help of suitable corelations between rebound index and
compressive strength,
Assessing the uniformity of concrete,
Assessing the quality of the concrete in relation to standard

requirements, and
Assessing the quality of one element of concrete in relation to

another
Components of Hammer
Rebound Hammer Test
• HAMMER :
Measuring
Device Applications Weight
Direction
Impact direction Used for the non-destructive

Original Schmidt
perpendicular to measurement of the concrete/mortar 900 g
Hammer
the surface compressive strength characteristics
Silver Schmidt independent of Suitable for testing a wide variety of

600 g
Hammer impact direction concrete, mortar and rock
Rebound Number (RN)
• The apparatus is contained in a hand-held cylindrical tube, and
consists of a spring-loaded mass which is fired with a constant
energy against a plunger held against the concrete surface.
• The amount of rebound of the mass expressed as the

percentage of the initial extension of the spring is shown by
the position of a rider on a graduated scale, and recorded as
the rebound number.
Rebound Number
• Less energy is absorbed by a harder surface, and so the rebound
number is higher.
• A smooth concrete surface is required, but even then there is

considerable local variation due to the presence of coarse
aggregate particles (giving an abnormally high rebound number)
or a void (giving a low number) just below the surface, and
therefore a number of readings must be taken and averaged.
Rebound Number
• Typical recommendations are for 10 readings over an area of 150
mm diameter, with no two readings being taken within 25 mm of
each other.
• Also, the concrete being tested must be part of an unyielding mass;

laboratory specimens such as cubes should therefore be held under
a stress of about 7 MPa in a compression testing machine.
• The test clearly only measures the properties of the surface zone
of the concrete, to a depth of about 25–30mm.
Procedure
Rebound Hammer & strength of
Concrete
Horizontal
hammer
WET
Correlation between RN & Strength
• The correlation between RN and concrete strength
depends on:
• The Aggregate type, since the hardness is a function of
both strength and elastic modulus of the concrete;
• The moisture condition of the surface;
• The angle of the hammer with the vertical, which will vary
since the test must be carried out with the plunger
normal to the concrete surface.
Application of RN
Strength cannot be predicted with great certainty,

but the test is very simple and convenient, and so is
often used as a first step in an investigation of in
situ concrete, for example to assess uniformity or
to compare areas of known good quality and
suspect concrete.
Minimum readings and position
• When the total number of readings (n) taken at a location is

> 10, the accuracy of the mean rebound number is likely to
have a confidence of > 95%.
• The rebound numbers should not be taken too close to the

edge of the members, i.e., they should be atleast 20 mm
away from the boundary.
Location of testing
• The test location within the member is important when

interpreting results.
• The test yields information about a thin surface layer only.
• Voids or defects present at large depths do not influence

the test results.
Limitation
a) Smoothness of surface under test
b) Size , shape and rigidity of the specimen
c) Age of specimen
d) Surface and internal moisture condition of the concrete
e) Type of coarse aggregate
f) Type of cement
g) Type of mould
h) Carbonation of concrete surface

Pulse Velocity Method
Mechanical
PVM
Ultrasonic
Ultrasonic pulse velocity test (UPV)
ASTM C 597
A means of producing and introducing a

wave pulse into the concrete and a means
of sensing the arrival of the pulse and
accurately measuring the time taken by
the pulse to travel through the concrete.
• This is an extremely versatile and popular test for both in-
situ and laboratory use.
• It involves measuring the time taken for an ultrasonic pulse
to travel through a known distance in concrete, from which
the velocity is calculated.
• The ultrasonic signal is generated by a piezo-electric
crystal housed in a transducer, which transforms an
electric pulse into a mechanical wave.
• A suitable apparatus and a standard procedure are
described in ASTM C 597.
• The pulse is detected by a second similar transducer, which

converts it back to an electrical impulse, and the time taken
to travel between the two transducers is measured and
displayed by the instrumentation.
• Efficient acoustic coupling between the transducers and the

concrete is essential, and is usually obtained by a thin layer
of grease.
Pulse velocity & Frequency
• The pulse velocity is independent of the pulse frequency,

but for concrete fairly low frequencies in the range 20–150
kHz (most commonly 54 kHz) are used to give a strong signal
which is capable of passing through several metres of
concrete.
• Transducers which produce longitudinal waves are normally
used, although shear wave transducers are available.
Objective
• Homogeneity of the concrete
• Presence of cracks, voids and other imperfections
• Changes in the structure of the concrete with time
• Quality of concrete related to standard requirement
• Quality of one element of concrete in relation with another
• Values of dynamic elastic modulus of the concrete
Principle
• Electro acoustical Transducer
• Waves
• Longitudinal
• Shear
• Surface
Apparatus
a) Electrical pulse generator
b) Transducer
c) Amplifier
d) Electronic timing device
Techniques measuring for pulse
Velocity Test
• Direct transmission
• Indirect transmission
• Surface transmission
Factors affecting
1. Smoothness of contact surface under test
2. Influence of path length on pulse velocity
3. Temperature of concrete
4. Moisture condition of concrete
5. Presence of reinforcing steel

Applications
• Establishing uniformity of concrete
• Establishing acceptance criteria
• Determination of pulse modulus of Elasticity
• Estimation of strength of concrete
• Determination of setting characteristics of concrete
• Studies on durability of concrete
• Pulse velocity techniques
• Measurement of deterioration of concrete due to fire
exposure
• The quality of concrete in terms of uniformity, incidence or
absence of internal flaws, cracks and segregation,
etc,indicative of the level of workmanship employed; can
thus be assessed using the guidelines given in Table
Concrete
Pulse Velocity
S.N Quality
(km/sec)
Grading
1 above 4.5 Excellent
2 3.5 to 4.5 Good
3 3 to 3.5 Medium
4 below 3.0 Doubtful
Note: Incase of doubtful quality, it may be necessary to

carryout further tests. Mitiku D. (Ph.D.) 46
Penetration Resistance Techniques (PRT)
ASTM C 805 M
• The equipment used to determine the penetration
resistance of concrete consists of a powder-activated
device.
• One currently used apparatus, known as the Windsor
probe uses a powder-activated driver to fire a
hardened-alloy probe into the concrete.
• The type and amount of aggregate play an important
role in the penetration resistance, which becomes
critical when determining the relationship between
penetration resistance and strength.
Penetration Resistance Techniques (PRT)
Application of PRT
• Due to the small volume under testing, the variation in the
Windsor probe-test results is higher as compared with the
variation in standard compressive strength tests on
companion specimens.
• But this method is excellent for measuring the relative rate
of strength development of concrete at early ages,
especially for determining stripping time for formwork.
Pullout Tests (PT)
• A PT consists of casting a specially shaped steel insert with
an enlarged end into fresh concrete.
• This steel insert is then pulled out from the concrete and
the force required for pullout is measured using a dynamo-
meter.
• A bearing ring is used to confine failure to a well-defined
shape.
• As the steel insert is pulled out, a cone of concrete is also
removed, thereby damaging the concrete surface (which
must be repaired after the test).
Pullout Tests (PT)
Application
• If the test is being used to determine the optimum time for
safe form-stripping, the pullout assembly need not be torn
out of concrete.
• Instead, the test may be terminated when a predetermined

pullout force has been reached on the gage and the forms
can be removed safely.
Pullout Tests (PT)
Since there is no agreement on what strength the PT is

measuring, it is recommended to develop a relationship
between the PT and the compressive strength of concrete.
Like the PRT , the PT is an excellent means of determining
the strength development of concrete at early ages and
safe form-stripping times.
The main advantage of pullout tests is that they attempt to
measure directly the in situ strength of concrete.
Rebar Locator
Rebar locator, with its integral

sensor can be held in one hand,
and provides the unique ability to
indicate the position of
reinforcing bars.
Rebar Locater
• The Rebar Locator features probes that allows one to

measure shallow and deep ranges.
• This instrument can locate the size and orientation of bar,

as well as indicate concrete cover.
• Generally used along with UPV and Core cutting equipment.
REBAR LOCATER- Equipment
• Range : Shallow - up to 100mm
Deep - up to 185mm
• Accuracy : Better than ± 2mm or
±5% for cover
• Bar Sizing: 8-40mm better than
± 1 bar size
• Display : LCD with backlight
Electric Resistivity Meter
ATSTM C 12022
• Concrete resistivity method - the instrument measures the
specific electrical resistivity of concrete.
• Surface resistivity measurement provides extremely useful
information about the state of a concrete structure.
Methods:
• The set of four probes are fitted with super conductive
foam tips (kept moist) to ensure full contact on irregular
surfaces.
• Once the probes are kept in contact with the concrete
surface, the LCD display will indicate the resistivity directly
on the screen.
58
Applications
• Estimation of the likelihood of corrosion
• Indication of corrosion rate
• Correlation to chloride permeability
• Identification of areas within a structure most susceptible to

chloride penetration
• Determination of zonal requirements for cathodic protection

systems
Thermal Conductivity (TC)
TC is a physical property of hardened paste that affects
heat transfer by conduction through the hardened paste.
TC is affected by the microstructure of the hardened

paste and the thermal characteristics of its constituents.
A hardened paste with high TC exhibits high heat transfer

and energy consumption values.
Thermal Conductivity
TC decreases along with curing
ages.
Water 25 times conductive than

air.
TC depends on the differences in

density of its constituent materials
Chloride Ion Penetration
Rapid Chloride permeability test
(RCPT) determines the resistance to
penetration of chloride ions.
RCPT-ASTM C 1202 is commonly

used to evaluate the resistance of
concrete to chloride ions ingress
owing to its simplicity and rapidity.
Chloride penetration (CP) in a natural
environment takes place under the
effect of two mechanisms: capillary
absorption and diffusion.
Diffusion due to a chloride

concentration gradient of the pore
solution between the exposed area and
concrete occurs in saturated medium.
Factors affecting chloride Factors affecting chloride
penetration
penetration
1.Void ratio:
8.Type and portion of mineral
admixture
2.Density
9.Compaction
3.Microstructure
5.Water cement ratio (w/c):

10.Curing
Type of cement used 11. Presence of cracks

12.Exposure conditions
7.Particle packing density
Maturity Test
ASTM C 1074
• Maturity of a concrete mixture is defined as the degree of cement
hydration, which varies as a function of both time and temperature.
• Therefore, it is assumed that, for a particular concrete mixture, strength

is a function of maturity.
• Maturity meters have been developed to provide an estimate of concrete

strength by monitoring the temperature of concrete with time.
• This test (ASTM C1074) is performed on fresh concrete and continued for
several days.
• The maturity meter must be calibrated for each concrete mix.

Checking the maturity of fresh
concrete using the maturity meter
Ground-Penetrating Radar
• Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a
geophysical locating method that uses
radio waves to capture images below the
surface of the ground in a minimally
invasive way.
• The huge advantage of GPR is that it
allows crews to pinpoint the location of
underground utilities without disturbing
the ground.
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has a huge number of
applications across a wide range of industries.
• It is non-destructive and can be used to detect subsurface

objects, as well as integrating with mapping, GPS, and 3D
technology.
• GPR’s versatility makes it one of the most useful tools in

engineering, construction, archaeology, geosciences, and
many other fields.calculated
• GPR is used across many aspects of construction and engineering from utility
locating to structural assessments.
• As a non-destructive form of testing it is a fast, safe and efficient method for

scanning.
• It is used to detect obstructions in concrete such as rebar, post-tensioned cables,

and conduits before cutting or coring through the concrete, meaning that
engineers can identify the best location and avoid damage.
• It can also be used to assess the damage and integrity of a structure by detecting
voids, cracks, and mapping corrosion.
• Xradar also allows you to map the depth and thickness of concrete walls or slabs.u
Radioactive Methods
• Use of X-rays and Gamma rays in NDT is new concept
• X and gamma rays are the component of high energy region on
the electromagnetic spectrum, it penetrates concrete but
undergo attenuation in the process
• The degree of attenuation is measured
• The intensity of X/Gamma rays passing through the specimen is
measured
• By using these two values density of concrete is calculated
Radioactive Methods
• Gamma rays transmission mission has been used to measure

the thickness of concrete slabs of known density.
• Gamma radiation of Known intensity is made to pass and

penetrate through concrete and the intensity at other face
is measured and from this the thickness of member is
calculated.
Nuclear Methods
There are two basic methods which are used to find out some
properties of concrete
• Neutron scattering Methods ; moisture content
• Neutron Activation analysis ; cement content
Reading Assignment
• Carbonation Test
• Chloride Determination Test
• Sulphate Determination Test
• Determination of pH
• Thermal Conductivity Test
Reading Assignment
Commonly adopted SDT methods
• Concrete Core Test
• Capo Test
• Windsor Probe Test
• Load Test for Flexure Member
• Load Test for Piles
Thank You!

Non Destructive Testing in Concrete

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Non Destructive Testing in Concrete

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Non Destructive Testing in Concrete

Concrete Construction (CENG 6024)

MSc Program in Construction Technology and Management

Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering

Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University

In NDT some properties of concrete are measured. These are

Comprehensive laboratory correlations have to be established

Cracks and Voids Reinforcement

• Whether concrete is hardened properly and gained its

• NDT is for both old and New Structures

• Exercise this without damaging the Structure…….

• Quality control of Construction , in situ

• Determining position of reinforcement

1. In laboratory studies, where it is particularly useful for

2. To assess the properties of concrete in a structure, for

• Schmidts Rebound Hammer Test

• Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

• Half Cell Electric Potential Method

• Penetration Resistance Or Windsor Probe Test

• Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

• Rebar Locater Test (Cover meter test)

• Ultrasonic pulse velocity test

• Electric Resistivity Meter Test

• Penetration Resistance Techniques

• Windsor Probe Test

• Load Test for Flexure Member

• Load Test for Piles

• Chloride Determination Test

• Sulphate Determination Test

• Carbonation Depth Measurement

• Ground Penetration Radar Testing

This technique is economical, and it neither time consuming

The visual inspection depends on the personal experience.

ASTM C 805, ACI 228.1R

Assessing the uniformity of concrete,

Assessing the quality of the concrete in relation to standard

Assessing the quality of one element of concrete in relation to

Impact direction Used for the non-destructive

Silver Schmidt independent of Suitable for testing a wide variety of

• The amount of rebound of the mass expressed as the

• A smooth concrete surface is required, but even then there is

• Also, the concrete being tested must be part of an unyielding mass;

Strength cannot be predicted with great certainty,

• When the total number of readings (n) taken at a location is

• The rebound numbers should not be taken too close to the

• The test location within the member is important when

• The test yields information about a thin surface layer only.

• Voids or defects present at large depths do not influence

b) Size , shape and rigidity of the specimen

d) Surface and internal moisture condition of the concrete

e) Type of coarse aggregate

h) Carbonation of concrete surface

A means of producing and introducing a

• The pulse is detected by a second similar transducer, which

• Efficient acoustic coupling between the transducers and the

• The pulse velocity is independent of the pulse frequency,

a) Electrical pulse generator

d) Electronic timing device

1. Smoothness of contact surface under test

2. Influence of path length on pulse velocity

4. Moisture condition of concrete

5. Presence of reinforcing steel

Note: Incase of doubtful quality, it may be necessary to

• Instead, the test may be terminated when a predetermined