UNIVERSITY OF GAZIANTEP

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL DEPARTMENT

CE-550
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND EVALUATION
IN STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Report About :

(Using of Schmidt Hammer as anon destructive test method

to determine compressive strength of structures )

Submitted to:

Do.Dr.ESSRA GUNAYISI
Prepared by:

Chalak Ahmed Mohammed

chalak.mohammed@gmail.com

2014 45056

Date : 10.04. 2015

 INTRODUCTION

SCHMIDT REBOUND HAMMER TEST

The Schmidt rebound hammer is principally a surface hardness tester. It
works on the principle that the rebound of an elastic mass depends on the
hardness of the surface against which the mass impinges. There is little
apparent theoretical relationship between the strength of concrete and the
rebound number of the hammer. However, within limits, empirical correlations
have been established between strength properties and the rebound number.
Further, Kolek has attempted to establish a correlation between the hammer
rebound number and the hardness as measured by the Brinell method.
EQUIPMENT FOR SCHMIDT/REBOUND HAMMER TEST
The Schmidt rebound hammer is shown in (Fig. 1). The hammer weighs
about 1.8 kg and is suitable for use both in a laboratory and in the field. A
schematic cutaway view of the rebound hammer is shown in ( Fig. 2). The
main components include the outer body, the plunger, the hammer mass, and
the main spring. Other features include a latching mechanism that locks the
hammer mass to the plunger rod and a sliding rider to measure the rebound of
the hammer mass. The rebound distance is measured on an arbitrary scale
marked from 10 to100. The rebound distance is recorded as a rebound
number corresponding to the position of the rider on the scale.

fig.1

1. Concrete surface

5. Hammer guide

9. Housing

2. Impact spring

6. Release catch

10. Hammer mass

3. Rider on guide rod

7. Compressive spring

4. Window and scale

8. Locking button

11. Plunger

Fig. 2 Components of a Rebound Hammer

ROCEDURE TO DETERMINE STRENGTH OF HARDENED CONCRETE BY REBOUND

HAMMER:

Before commencement of a test, the rebound hammer should be tested against the test anvil,
to get reliable results, for which the manufacturer of the rebound hammer indicates the range
of readings on the anvil suitable for different types of rebound hammer.

Apply light pressure on the plunger - it will release it from the locked position and allow it to
extend to the ready position for the test.

Press the plunger against the surface of the concrete, keeping the instrument perpendicular to
the test surface. Apply a gradual increase in pressure until the hammer impacts. (Do not
touch the button while depressing the plunger. Press the button after impact, in case it is not
convenient to note the rebound reading in that position.)iv) Take the average of about 11
readings....

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

The rebound reading on the indicator scale has been calibrated by the manufacturer of the
rebound hammer for horizontal impact, that is, on a vertical surface, to indicate the
compressive strength. When used in any other position, appropriate correction as given by
the manufacturer is to be taken into account.

Hammer test can provide fairly accurate estimate of concrete compressive

strength, it performed with precautions and co- relations :

1. Concrete Age : The concrete should be 14 to 56 days old.

2. Surface Condition : The surface of the concrete at the point tested must be smooth
dry and free of honey combing. Otherwise, rebound readings will be low indicating a
weaker concrete than is actually the case .
3. Location of Test Point : The concrete to be tested must be at least 100 mm thick.
Care must be taken that the test points are no closer than 25 mm from the edge.
4. No. of Readings : Calculate the average of 11 readings and exclude extreme
readings (if any) and recalculate average using the remaining readings.

TEST METHODOLOGY:
For taking a measurement, the hammer should be held at right
angles to the surface of the structure. The test thus can be
conducted horizontally on vertical surfaces and vertically upwards
or downwards on horizontal surfaces, as shown below:

RANGE AND LIMITATIONS OF SCHMIDT REBOUND

HAMMER TEST
Although the rebound hammer does provide a quick, inexpensive
method of checking the uniformity of concrete, it has some serious
limitations. The results are affected by:
1. Smoothness

of the test surface

Hammer has to be used against a smooth surface, preferably a

formed one. Open textured concrete cannot therefore be tested. If
the surface is rough, e.g. a trowelled surface, it should be rubbed
smooth with a carborundum stone.
2.

Size, shape and rigidity of the specimen

If the concrete does not form part of a large mass any movement
caused by the impact of the hammer will result in a reduction in the
rebound number. In such cases the member has to be rigidly held or
backed up by a heavy mass.
3.

Age of the specimen

For equal strengths, higher rebound numbers are obtained with a 7

day old concrete than with a 28 day old. Therefore, when old concrete
is to be tested in a structure a direct correlation is necessary between
the rebound numbers and compressive strengths of cores taken
from the structure. Rebound testing should not be carried out on low
strength concrete at early ages or when the concrete strength is less
than 7 MPa since the concrete surface could be damaged by the
hammer.

4.

Surface and internal moisture conditions of concrete

The rebound numbers are lower for well-cured air dried

specimens than for the same specimens tested after being soaked
in water and tested in the saturated surface dried conditions.
Therefore, whenever the actual moisture condition of the field
concrete or specimen is unknown, the surface should be presaturated for several hours before testing. A correlation curve for
tests performed on saturated surface dried specimens should then be
used to estimate the compressive strength.
5.

Type of coarse aggregate

Even though the same aggregate type is used in the concrete mix, the
correlation curves can be different if the source of the aggregate is
different. An example is shown in Fig. 4.5 where correlation curves
for four different sources of gravel are plotted

6.Type of cement
High alumina cement can have a compressive strength 100% higher
than the strength estimated using a correlation curve based on ordinary
Portland cement. Also, super sulphated cement concrete can have strength
50% lower than ordinary Portland cement.
7.Carbonation of the concrete surface

In older concrete the carbonation depth can be several millimeters

thick and, in extreme cases, up to 20 mm thick. In such cases the
rebound numbers can be up to 50% higher than those obtained on an
uncarbonated concrete surface.
7

Our laboratory test:

SAMPLE#1
(horizontal reading for specimeb concrete cube)
--As we discussed above we take 11 no of reading(position
A=horizontal) after that we neglect the highest and lowest
reading and after we take the average we compare to the
special graph to get the result of compressive strength of that

reading of the instrument

30
25
30
30
22 canceled
36 canceled
25
25
27
29
23
Average= 27.11

After putting that number in the graph(horizontal position) we get the

result =19.50 N/mm2 as shown in the graph no.1

Graph No. 1

 SAMPLE#2
(Vertical reading for specimen concrete slab manhole)
--As we discussed above we take 11 no of reading(position
B=Vertical) after that we neglect the highest and lowest reading
and after we take the average we compare to the special graph to
get the result of compressive strength of that

reading of the instrument

32
27
30
32
34
26
22 canceled
24
32
33
36 canceled
Average= 30
After putting that number in the graph(vertical position) we get the result
=28 N/mm2 as shown in the graph no.2

Graph No.2

If concrete compression test fails, should Schmidt

hammer test be adopted as an alternative test to
prove the concrete strength?
The Scmidt hammer test is based on the elastic rebound of
hammer which presses on concrete surface and it measures
the surface hardness of concrete. Since the test is very
sensitive to the presence of aggregates and voids at the
concrete surface, it is necessary to take more than 10
readings over the area of test. However, it should be noted
that Schmidt hammer test measures surface hardness only
but not the strength of concrete. Therefore, it may not be
considered a good substitute

Regards...