UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FCE 246 CONCRETE

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS ON CONCRETE

F16/2062/2004
KATO GEORGE MWAWAZA
13 May 2006
 NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF CONCRETE
In the current Engineering situations, the need to assess concrete structures
in-situ and without causing any structural damages to the concrete is crucial. The
standard methods of testing the quality of concrete entail crashing of concrete
specimen; can only be carried out in the laboratory and require heavy machinery
and cannot tell the internal condition of the concrete.
Determination of the strength properties of structural concrete involves
destructive stresses. This therefore means that strength properties cannot be
measured directly by non-destructive methods but other properties that relate to
strength can be measured. Such properties include hardness, resistance to
penetration by objects, rebound capacity and ability to transmit ultrasonic pulses
and X- and Y-rays. The last two properties can also be used to determine the
internal condition of the concrete, which includes presence of defects and weak
points and the corrosion state of the rebars.
These methods can be broadly categorized as penetration tests, rebound
tests, pull-out techniques, dynamic tests, radioactive test and maturity concept.
Penetration Test
The Windsor probe method, which is the most common, entails punching tiny
holes into the concrete, which are barely destructive to the structural strength.
Equipment consists of a powder-actuated gun or driver, hardened alloy
probes, loaded cartridges, a depth gauge for measuring penetration of probes
and other related equipment. A probe, diameter 0.25 in. (6.5 mm) and length
3.125 in. (8.0 cm), is driven into the concrete by means of a precision powder
charge. Depth of penetration provides an indication of the compressive strength
of the concrete. The instrument should be calibrated for the type of concrete and
type and size of the aggregate used.
Unfortunately, the results of the tests are quite variable and should not be
expected to give accurate values. However, this test offers a quick, affordable
and efficient means of checking quality and maturity of in situ concrete and
assessing strength development with curing.
 Rebound Tests
Also called the impact hammer or sclerometer test. The rebound hammer
measures the surface hardness. The test is based on the principle hat the
rebound of an elastic mass depends on the hardness of the surface against
which the mass impinges. An empirical correlation has been established between
strength and rebound number. The most commonly used instrument that makes
use of the rebound principle is the Schmidt hammer. This hammer weighs about
4lb (1.8kg) and is suitable for both laboratory and fieldwork. 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 then the mass is
released and rebounded from the plunger by the spring and the distance of
rebound is measured on a scale, and expressed as a percentage of the initial
extension of the spring. The test surface can be horizontal, vertical or at any
angle but the instrument must be calibrated in this position. Several readings are
taken, well distributed and reproducible, the average representing the rebound
number for the concrete. Calibration can be done using test cylinders specimens
of the same concrete to be tested.
This method provides an inexpensive, simple and quick method of obtaining
an indication of concrete strength. For specimens cast, cured and tested under
conditions for which the calibration curves have been established, accuracy of
±15 - 20% is possible. The results are affected by factors such as smoothness of
surface, size and shape of specimen, moisture condition of the concrete, type of
cement and coarse aggregate, and extent of carbonation of surface.
Pull-Out Tests
This test 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 in. (7.6 cm). During the pull-out the concrete is simultaneously in tension and
in shear but the force required for pull-out can be related to compressive
strength. The pull-out strength is calculated as the ratio of the force to the
idealized area of the frustum. 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.
These tests do not measure the interior strength of mass concrete but they
give a clue on the maturity and development of strength of a representative part
of it thus can measure quantitatively the strength of the concrete in place.
The main disadvantage is that they have to be planned in advance and pull-
out assemblies set into the formwork before placing the concrete.
Dynamic Tests (ultrasonic pulse velocity test)
The principle of the test is that velocity of sound in a solid material is a function
of the square root of the ratio of its modulus of elasticity to its density.
This method measures the time of travel of an ultrasonic pulse passing
through concrete. The fundamental design of a working unit consists a pulse
generator and receiver made of shock exciting piezo-crystals. The time of travel
of the pulse is measured by electronic measuring circuits and displayed on a
cathode-ray oscilloscope.
These being precision measurements, some factors have to be considered,
namely;
 There must be smooth contact with surface under test, a film of oil
is mandatory.
 Path lengths should be at least 30 cm.
 Pulse velocities vary with temperature below 5c and above 30c.
 Rebars in concrete affect pulse velocity therefore pulse paths
should avoid them.

High pulse velocity readings are an indication of good quality concrete. Fairly
good correlation can be obtained between cube compressive strength and pulse
velocity. These relations enable the strength of structural concrete to be
predicted within ±20 percent, provided the types of aggregate and mix
proportions are constant.

The pulse velocity method has been used to study the effects on concrete of
freeze-thaw action, sulphate attack, and acidic waters. Generally, the degree of
damage is related to a reduction in pulse velocity. Cracks can also be detected.
The pulse velocity method can also be used to estimate the rate of hardening
and strength development of concrete in the early stages to determine when to
remove formwork.

Radioactive methods

Radioactive methods of testing concrete can be used to detect the location of

reinforcement, measure density and perhaps establish whether honeycombing
has occurred in structural concrete units. The equipment is quite simple and
running costs are small, although the initial price can be high.

Maturity Concept

The basic principle of concrete maturity is that increase in strength is a

function of time and temperature, and that any standard of maturity in terms of
strength must include both temperature and period of curing. The maturity of the
concrete at any instant can be calculated by integration of temperature as a
function of time if complete records of time-temperature changes are kept. The
datum temperature is usually taken as -10°C (14°F). The technique can be of
great use in winter concreting operations where monitoring of strength at early
ages is very important. It must be emphasized, however, that in measuring
maturity no property of the concrete itself is measured. If the concrete design and
placing are good, the test will tell when the concrete has been adequately cured;
it will not indicate the quality of the concrete.

Resonance method

This method is restricted to the laboratory and is used to determine the

Young’s modulus or the dynamic shear modulus of the concrete. Beams or
cylinders of concrete are used in these tests.

References:

1. Digest on non- Destructive Tests, R.F. Feldman, 1977

2. Non-destructive testing of Concrete, Jones R., 1967

3. Concrete Technology, A.M. Neville & J.J. Brooks, 1991