TESTING OF CONCRETE

Advance Construction 10th Semester

TESTING OF CONCRETE

Non – Testing of
Destructive
Destructive Concrete

▪ does not destroy ▪ carried out until

the test specimen specimen’s failure
after testing
▪ will render the part
▪ allow the part to unusable for its
be used for its intended purpose
intended purpose
WHERE TO USE NDT?
▪ Assessment of existing ▪ Location of Cracks/
structures in the absence Joints/ Honeycombing
of drawings
▪ Quality control of
▪ Determining position of construction , in situ (for
reinforcement ongoing sites)
▪ In some cases, it required
to assess of concrete
damaged due to fire or
any other natural calamity
due judge the condition of
structure
COST EFFECTIVENESS
Destructive testing
Huge Cost initially has to put in for taking
sample and then to test it.

Non-Destructive testing
Its very easy and simple process and a lot
of tests can be performed on concrete
without extracting the concrete
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF CONCRETE (NDT)
▪ It is a method of testing existing (old or new)
concrete structures to assess their strength and
durability.
▪ With this, we can measure strength of concrete
without loading the specimen to failure.
▪ Recently, it has become a part of quality control
process in new/ongoing constructions.
▪ This method helps us to investigate crack depth,
micro cracks and deterioration of concrete.
▪ It requires skilled and experienced persons.
Rebound Hammer test
PURPOSE OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS
1. Estimating the in-situ 5. Condition of
compressive strength, reinforcement steel with
uniformity, quality and respect to corrosion
homogeneity
6. Chloride, sulphate, alkali
2. Identifying areas of contents or degree of
lower integrity carbonation
3. Detection of presence of 7. Measurement of Elastic
imperfections Modulus (to check the
stress it can bear)
4. Monitoring changes in
the structure of the 8. Condition of grouting in
concrete. prestressing cable ducts
DIFFERENT METHODS OF NDT

Visual Testing Rebound hammer Ultrasonic pulse Permeability Test Half Cell Electric
method velocity method Potential Method

Penetration Carbonation
method / Cover meter Radioactive Sonic method depth
Windsor probe testing methods measurement
test

Tomographic Ground Infrared Pull out test

modelling Impact eco-testing Penetration Radar thermology method
Testing
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES - SUMMARY
Advantages
▪ Access to hidden items – “see
through walls”
▪ Better investigations with NDT
▪ Rapid & on site accumulation
of data
▪ Generally less expensive than
destructive testing.
▪ Gives result without structural
damage
Disadvantages
▪ More than one test method
may be required
▪ Environmental conditions may
effect or distort results
▪ Construction details & building
components may effect results
▪ Some conditions cannot be
determined with a reasonable
degree of accuracy without
destructive testing
VISUAL INSPECTION 1/2
Only experienced and well trained eye is needed without any major
equipment. Signs of distress in concrete
— Cracks and pop-outs — Variation in algal and vegetable
— Surface pitting and spalling (in growth (near landscapes)
roads) — Honeycombing (incomplete filling
— Surface staining (on floors), color of concrete against formwork)
changes, and surface blemishes — Bleed masks
— Surface voids (holes and air — Constructional and lift joints
gaps) (specially in water tanks / large
— Differential movements and concrete structure)
displacements (specially due to — Surface Disintegration
soil and different material — Weathering
junction)
— Lack of uniformity
VISUAL INSPECTION 2/2

Study the Preliminary Visual Environmental

Results
drawings survey Inspection condition

Tools and equipment: Incase access to site is not

▪ Measuring tape possible
▪ Ruler ▪ Binoculars
▪ Marker ▪ Telescope
▪ Thermometer ▪ Borescopes
▪ Anemometer ▪ Endoscopes
▪ Fiberscopes
REBOUND HAMMER TEST
▪ It is a surface hardness tester for which
an empirical correlation has been
established between strength and
rebound number.
▪ It consists of a spring-controlled
hammer mass that slides on a plunger
within a tubular housing.
▪ The hammer is forced against the
surface of the concrete by the spring
and the distance of rebound is
measured on an inbuilt scale.
▪ Rebound of elastic mass depends on
hardness of surface
1/3
▪ The test surface can be horizontal,
vertical or at any angle but the
instrument must be calibrated in this
position.
▪ Calibration can be done with cylinders
(6 by 12 in.) of the same cement and
aggregate as will be used on the job.
▪ The cylinders are capped and firmly
held in a compression machine.
▪ Relation between rebound number and
strength of surface
REBOUND HAMMER TEST 2/3
The Schmidt hammer provides an
inexpensive, simple and quick method of
obtaining an indication of concrete strength.

HAMMER: Components of Hammer

Device Measuring Direction Applications Weight

Original Schmidt Impact direction Used for the non-destructive measurement of the 900 g
Hammer perpendicular to the surface concrete/mortar compressive strength characteristics
Silver Schmidt independent of impact Suitable for testing a wide variety of concrete, 600 g
Hammer direction mortar and rock
REBOUND HAMMER TEST
Limitation
a) Smoothness of surface under test
b) Size, shape and rigidity of the
specimen
3/3
c) Age of specimen f) Type of cement
d) Surface and internal moisture g) Type of mould
condition of the concrete
h) Carbonation of concrete surface
e) Type of coarse aggregate

Procedure
RADIOACTIVE METHODS 1/2
▪ Use of X-rays and ▪ Gamma radiography is
Gamma rays in NDT is increasingly accepted in
new concept
England and Europe.
▪ Used to
▪ Simple equipment is
— detect the location
quite and low running
of reinforcement
costs, although the
— measure density
initial price can be high.
— check whether
honeycombing has ▪ Concrete up to 18
occurred in inches thick can be
structural concrete examined without
units difficulty.
RADIOACTIVE METHODS 2/2
▪ 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 and thickness
of concrete is calculated
ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY METHOD 1/3
It is the only one of this type that shows potential Process
for testing concrete strength in situ. It measures ▪ Pulses are generated by
the time of travel of an ultrasonic pulse passing shock-exciting
through the concrete. piezoelectric crystals,
with similar crystals used
▪ Homogeneity of the concrete in the receiver.
▪ The time taken for the
▪ Presence of cracks, voids and other imperfections
pulse to pass through
▪ Changes in the structure of the concrete with time the concrete is measured
by electronic measuring
▪ Quality of concrete related to standard circuits.
requirement ▪ It can be carried out on
both laboratory-sized
▪ Quality of one element of concrete in relation specimens and
with another completed concrete
▪ Values of dynamic elastic modulus of the concrete structures.
ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY METHOD 2/3
FACTORS AFFECTING APPLICATIONS

1. Smoothness of contact surface under test - There must be Used on both existing structures and those under construction.
smooth contact with the surface under test; a coupling medium
such as a thin film of oil is mandatory. ▪ Establishing uniformity of concrete

2. Influence of path length on pulse velocity- It is desirable ▪ Establishing acceptance criteria

for path-lengths to be at least 12 inches, in order to avoid
any errors introduced by heterogeneity. ▪ Determination of pulse modulus of Elasticity

3. Temperature of concrete - There is an increase in pulse ▪ Estimation of strength of concrete

velocity at below-freezing temperature owing to freezing of
▪ Determination of setting characteristics of concrete
water; from 5 to 30°C pulse velocities are not temperature
dependent. ▪ Studies on durability of concrete
4. Moisture condition of concrete ▪ Pulse velocity techniques
5. Presence of reinforcing steel - The presence of reinforcing ▪ Measurement of deterioration of concrete due to fire exposure
steel in concrete has an appreciable effect on pulse velocity.
ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY METHOD 3/3
▪ Large differences in pulse velocity ▪ As concrete ages, the rate of Table: Quality of Concrete and
in a structure, means that defective increase of pulse velocity slows Pulse Velocity
or deteriorated concrete is present. down.

▪ High pulse velocity readings ▪ Accuracy depends on careful General ft/sec

indicate good quality concrete. calibration and use of the same
Conditions
Pulse Velocity
concrete mix proportions.
▪ It has been used to study the effects Excellent Above 15,000
on concrete of freeze-thaw action, ▪ Its use for predicting strength is
sulphate attack, and acidic waters. much more limited, owing to the
Good 12,000-15,000
large number of variables Questionable 10,000-12,000
▪ Used to estimate the rate of
affecting the relation between
hardening and strength Poor 7,000-10,000
strength and pulse velocity.
development of concrete for
Very Poor below 7,000
formwork removal
PULL-OUT TESTS ON CONCRETE
▪ Measures the force required
to pull from the concrete a
specially shaped steel rod
whose enlarged end has
been cast into the concrete to
a depth of 3 inches (7.6 cm).
▪ The, concrete is
simultaneously in tension and
in shear but the force
required to pull the concrete
out can be related to its
compressive strength.
1/2
▪ The pull-out technique can
thus measure quantitatively
the in-situ strength of
concrete when proper
correlations have been made.
▪ It has been found, over a
wide range of strengths, that
pull-out strengths have a
coefficient of variation
comparable to that of
compressive strength.
PULL-OUT TESTS ON CONCRETE 2/2
Advantages Limitations

▪ they do give information on the maturity and ▪ The pull-out, of course, creates some minor damage.
development of strength of a representative part of it.
▪ pullout tests do not measure the interior strength of
mass concrete
PENETRATION TESTS ON CONCRETE 1/2
▪ Windsor probe - the 6.5mm and length
best means of testing 8.0cm, is driven into
penetration. the concrete by means
of a precision powder
▪ Equipment: charge.
—a powder-actuated gun ▪ Depth of penetration
or driver, indicates compressive
—hardened alloy probes, strength of the
concrete.
—loaded cartridges,
▪ Instrument should be
—a depth gauge for calibrated for type of
measuring penetration concrete and type and
of probes size of aggregate used
—other related
as per calibration
equipment. charts by the
manufacturer.
▪ A probe, diameter
PENETRATION TESTS ON CONCRETE 2/2
LIMITATIONS
The test produces quite variable results and should
not be expected to give accurate values of concrete
strength.
BENEFITS
▪ It has, however, the potential for providing a
quick means of checking quality and maturity
of in situ concrete.
▪ It also provides a means of assessing strength
development with curing.
▪ The test is essentially non-destructive, since
concrete and structural members can be tested in
situ, with only minor patching of holes on exposed
faces.
MAGNETIC METHODS
▪ Battery operated magnetic
devices that are used to measure -
Depth of reinforcement cover in
concrete
▪ Detect the position of
reinforcement bars
▪ Apparatus is known as
COVERMETER

Magnetic rebar locator

ELECTRICAL METHODS
▪ To find out moisture content of Hardened
Concrete
▪ Tracing of Moisture permeation through
concrete
▪ Determination of thickness of Concrete
pavements
NUCLEAR METHODS
There are two basic methods which are used to
find out some properties of concrete
▪ Neutron scattering Methods for moisture
content
▪ Neutron Activation analysis for cement content

A density gauge being used to ensure proper

compaction for the foundation of a school
construction project.
EXTRAS
NDT methods – more than 7 decades.
Considerable developments have taken
place.
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
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 behaviour 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’. This is to be done for the
field materials.
In addition to NDT, Semi Destructive Testing
(SDT) are also performed
 BRIEF OF NDT TEST
1) STRENGTH EVALUATION OF CONCRETE
No. Measurement
1 Surface strength (rebound number)
2 Homogeneity of Concrete
3 Combined ultrasonic and rebound
number determination
4 Pull-off strength (bond strength)
5 Pull out force
6 Break off test
7 Penetration resistance
Application Equipment
Surface Zone Strength Assessment Rebound Hammer
Quality of Concrete Ultrasonic pulse velocity meter
Uniformity/homogeneity, Location of Ultrasonic Pulse velocity tester
internal defects
Surface Zone Strength Assessment Pull off Tester
Surface zone strength assessment Pull out “Lock” Test (Construction
Stage) Pull Out “Capo” Test (after
construction)
The break off test at failure can be Break off tester
related to compressive or flexural
strength
Surface Zone Strength Assessment Windsor Probe
 BRIEF OF NDT TEST
2) CORROSION ASSESSMENT, LOCATION AND DIA. OF
REBAR AND COVER
No. Measurement Application Equipment
1 Corrosion potential (half-cell) Status of Corrosion activity Half Cell Potential Meter

2 Resistivity Rate of probable corrosion Resistivity Meter

3 Carbonation depth Corrosion risk and cause Carbonation Test Kit

4 Chloride content Corrosion risk and cause Chloride Field Test System
5 Voids and Corrosion Viewing interior of concrete Endoscopy

6 Scanning Of dia. of rebar and cover It is used for locating rebars, diameter of Profometer
rebars and concrete cover

7 Cover and re-bar measurement Corrosion risk and cause Micro Cover Mete
 BRIEF OF NDT TEST
3) CRACK MEASUREMENT IN BUILDINGS AND
STRUCTURES
No. Measurement Application Equipment

1 Length changes Strain measurement digital strain gauges

2 Radiographic Images Cracks, location of rebars Radiographic source and detector

3 Acoustic Emission technique To measure the location and activity of SPARTAN & MISTRAS System
cracks

4 Infra Red Images Cracks, delamination Infra Red Thermal Imaging Systems