ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS OF

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING HOUSE NO. 217 SECTOR 32-A,

CHANDIGARH

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Non Destructive Testing was carried out for House No. 217 Sector 32-A
Chandigarh. This is an old construction. Non-destructive testing of concrete
elements along with condition survey was carried out to assess the extent of
damage caused by weathering agents.
Rebound hammer test was carried out at various locations.

1.1 Problem
The RCC structure has shown signs of deterioration in the form cracks,
spalling and corrosion of rebar. The R.C.C. members have deteriorated
making building unfit for use.

1.2 Objective
The study involves determination of structural integrity of the building by
assessing the in-situ quality of concrete and reinforcement of the building
under investigation. The building is currently being used for residential
purposes.

The specific objectives of the study are to know:

• Visual inspection
• Quality of Concrete
• Rebound Hammer Test

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2. ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY OF STRUCTURES

Despite the high durability of concrete as construction material, there are

occasions when a structure shows signs of deterioration. Damage may occur
from a variety of causes: accidental overloading, foundation settlement, or
(construction faults / poor detailing) poor workmanship. An even more
common cause of damage is corrosion of reinforcement, which leads to
cracking and spalling of the concrete cover.

Concrete structures that are in use under severe conditions need to be

specifically inspected to determine the extent of damage and assess Integrity
of structures. Several techniques and methods are available for assessing the
condition of such structures.

The first step in successful integrating testing is to carry out a thorough

investigation. It is essential to determine if the major portion of the structure is
of suitable quality. In addition, knowledge of the intensity and extent of
damage is required for executing an appropriate repair scheme. The aim of
the investigation should be:

♦ To identify the cause of the damage and the source of the problem;
♦ To determine the extent of damage;
♦ To determine material properties;
♦ To assess the safety and serviceability of the structure;
♦ To provide recommendations on remedial and preventive measures;
♦ To estimate the cost of repair or replacement.

A typical investigation involves the following processes:-

♦ Inspecting the site, with special attention to potential safety hazards;
♦ Studying the design, construction details, and loading history of the
structure;

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♦ Planning a condition survey;
♦ Executing the condition survey;
♦ Laboratory testing of material samples secured from the structure;
♦ Analyzing and interpreting the acquired data;
♦ Load testing individual members, if necessary.

The different methods for inspecting concrete structures may be simply

classified as:
♦ Visual
♦ Mechanical / physical inspection
♦ Chemical analysis, and
♦ Electrochemical testing

2.1 Initial Visual Inspection

Visual examination is the starting point of inspection. Cracks, rust staining,
and spalling are the most obvious defects which can be identified. Often the
location of these can give a good indication of the cause of the problem, but
an open mind must be kept at this stage until further investigation is
undertaken to confirm the root cause. If visual inspection of a structure
suggests that a problem may be present, an in-depth examination should be
carried out.
The purpose of the site inspection is to identify the type and age of
construction, gravity and lateral load resisting systems, and to make a
preliminary assessment of the existing condition of the structure. Visual
defects may be related to poor workmanship or material deterioration. These
show up as excessive deflection and flexural cracking, while foundation
movements may cause diagonal cracks. Material deterioration is normally
indicated by cracking and spalling. It is particularly important to differentiate
between the various types of cracks found. Examination of crack patterns
often suggests the most probable cause of the problem.
Access facilities are usually minimal, so the extent of examination is limited.
Hammer- tapping (to locate hollowness or delamination), and the use of the

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 Schmidt Hammer, cover meter, or crack width gauge are often helpful.
Potential problems associated with cracking, excessive deflections, water
permeability, and evidence of corrosion should be specially noted. By
observing the site and examining pertinent drawings and records, the
probable causes of damage are deduced, and the areas of serious concern
are located. It is often possible to judge whether the damage is corrosion
related and this is useful in planning the subsequent detailed survey.

TABLE – 1
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
S.No. Intensity Visual damage Residual deformation
1. Light Fine crack (<1mm) light spalling at Not apparent
isolated spots
2. Moderate Medium cracks (1-2mm) light spalling Slight
door/ windows slightly stuck
3. Severe Wide cracks (<2mm) at different Slope of floor not
locations doors / windows stuck utility exceeding p/125
pipes and glass broken
4. Very Wide cracks everywhere doors / Slope of floor
severe window distorted utility pipes and glass exceeding P/125
broken

2.2 Condition Survey

The purpose of the survey is to collect sufficient data to pinpoint the cause
and source of the problem and to determine the extent of the damage.
Depending on the probable cause of the damage, the site work involves a
combination of the following processes:

♦ Detailed visual inspection;

♦ Survey of cracks, spalls, steel pitting and other defects;
♦ Potential mapping with half cell potentiometer, or similar instrument, that
identifies zones of high corrosion risk;

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♦ Drilling holes or mini-cores for carbonation test and chloride content
analysis;
♦ Coring of concrete for determination of strength and petrography
examination;
♦ Measurement of concrete cover and reinforcing bar spacing with cover
meter;
♦ Schmidt hammer test for Delamination or compressive strength
(comparison only);
♦ Ultrasonic test for honeycombing depth of cracks, or compressive strength
(comparison only);
♦ Assessment of depth of discoloration (in the damage) with hammer and
chisel.

CONDITION SURVEY

SITE OBSERVATIONS NDT RESULTS LABTEST RESULTS

DESIGN RECORDS
LOADING RECORDS EXPERT KNOWLEDGE
INTERPRETATION

2.3 Physical and Mechanical Inspection

This comprises of a series of tests conducted physically on the structure to
assess its condition. This covers the range of non-destructive tests and semi
destructive tests, conducted in-situ. The various tests conducted are as
follows:

(a) Simple Hammer

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 A simple hammer can be effectively utilized to get an idea about the nature
and extent of damage in a distressed structure. The sound heard on tapping
the surface indicates the qualitative nature. A metallic sound indicates
undamaged area while a dull thud indicates delaminated areas. This simple
instrument can throw light on the following aspects:
♦ Delamination of cover concrete
♦ Presence of honeycombs
♦ Sulphate attack

(b) Strength tests

The strength, integrity of concrete, presence of cracks and delamination are
determined by the following tests.
♦ Rebound Hammer Test
♦ Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test
♦ Carbonation Test
♦ Concrete Resistivity Test

i. Rebound Hammer Test:-

This test gives a measure of the surface hardness of the concrete surface.
Although there is no direct relationship between this measurement of surface
hardness and strength, an empirical relationship exists.
Rebound hammer is the best known methods of comparing the concrete in
different parts of a structure and indirectly assessing concrete strength. The rebound
hammer should be considered as a means of assessing variations of strength within
a structure rather than an accurate means of assessing the strength.
Objective of testing:-
Rebound hammer test is performed to determine the following:
♦ Surface hardness
♦ Uniformity of concrete over the structure
♦ Grade of concrete
♦ Estimated strength which is derived from establishing a relationship between
in-situ core strength and rebound number.

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 Influencing factors:-
Rebound hammer test results are considerably influenced by these factors:
♦ Size, shape and rigidity of the specimen
♦ Age of test specimen
♦ Smoothness of surface and internal moisture condition of the concrete
♦ Carbonation of concrete surface

Testing Method:-
According to ASTM C 805-02 clause 7.1 the concrete members to be tested shall
be at least 100mm thick and fixed within a structure. Towelled surfaces generally
exhibit high rebound numbers than screed or formed finishes. Do not compare
the test results if the form material against which the concrete is placed is not
similar.
Heavily textured, soft or surfaces with loose mortar shall be ground flat with
abrasive stone. Smooth formed or towelled surfaces do not have to be ground
prior to testing.
Also this test is not conducted directly over the reinforcing bars having cover less
than 20mm. The surface under test should be clean and smooth because rough
surfaces cannot be tested as they do not give reliable results. Dirt or other loose
material on the surface can be removed using a grinding stone prior to test.

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3.0 RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

Sr. No. Location RH-Number Avg. RH- Compressive

Number Strength
(N/mm2)
1. Point 1 Corridor 26,26,30.5,22.5,20,27.5,23.5, 25.4 9.5
roof Slab 27.5
2. Point 2 Corridor 20.5,25.5,20,22.5,24.5,25,21.5, 22.4 8.1
roof Slab 20
3. Point 3 Kitchen 27,21,28.5,28,22.5,20,29.5,25 25.2 9.3
roof slab
4. Point 4 bed room 22.5,24.5,26,28.5,22.5,26,20, 24.2 8.8
slab 24.5

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4.0 CONCLUSIONS
Based on the investigation & study carried out on various members, the
following conclusions are drawn:
• The walls of the building are load bearing and heavy cracking is observed
with severe seepage at various locations.

• The strength of concrete as per the NDT test carried out is max. 9.5
N/mm2.

• There is spalling of concrete cover at almost all of the exposed members.

Hence exposing the reinforcement which has in turn corroded overtime.

• Very severe corrosion is observed for exposed members. Substantial steel

pitting is visible with complete carbonation of cover.

• Hence, considering all the above factors, the buildings are unfit for use.

Suitable rectification measures such as- retrofitting under the supervision of a

structural consultant or reconstruction should be done.
*****
Geotech Engineering Services

Simranjit Singh Marwah

M.E. (Const. Tech. & Mgt.)
Technical Manager
M: 9855534194

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 SITE PHOTOS

FRONT VIEW OF THE BUILDING

HEAVY SEEPAGE

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DAMAGED ROOF SLAB WITH EXPOSED REINFORCMENTS

HEAVY CRACKING IN LOAD BEARING WALLS

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COMPLETELY DAMAGED COVER AND CORRODED REBARS

REBOUND HAMMER TEST CONDUCTED ON SLAB

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DAMAGED COVER EXPOSING & CORRODING REBARS OVERTIME IN THE
BACKYARD

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