Non Destructive Tests

Non Destructive testing are non-invasive techniques to determine the integrity of a material,
component or structure or quantitatively measure some characteristic of an object.

These tests can be categorized in two parts:

1. Tests used to determine the strength of concrete
2. Tests used to determine the other characteristics of concrete like voids, cracks etc.

Its an assessment without doing harm, destroying the test.

Plays crucial role in ensuring cost effective operation, safety and reliability of plant.
Cost saving technique in quality assurance process.

quality control of pre-cast units or construction in situ

confirming or negating doubt concerning the workmanship involved in batching,
mixing, placing, compacting or curing of concrete
location and determination of the extent of cracks, voids, honeycombing and similar
defects within a concrete structure
determining the position, quantity or condition of reinforcement
Confirming or locating suspected deterioration of concrete resulting from such factors
as overloading, fatigue, external or internal chemical attack or change, fire, explosion,
environmental effect.

Schmidt hammer test is done to find out the compressive strength of concrete by
using Schmidt hammer.

The elastic mass depends on the hardness of the surface.

It is related to the compressive strength of the concrete.
The rebound value is designated as the rebound number or rebound index.
The results are significantly affected by :

A) Mix characteristics.
B) Angle of inclination of direction of hammer.
C) Member characteristics.

Assessing the likely compressive strength of concrete .

Assessing the uniformity of concrete
Assessing the quality of concrete in relation to standard requirements.
Assessing the quality of one element of concrete in relation to another.

Assessing the likely compressive strength of concrete.

Assessing the quality of concrete in relation to standard requirements.

for testing normal weight concrete 2.25

for light weight concrete or small and impact sensitive part of concrete
For testing mass concrete i.e. In roads, airfield pavements and hydraulic structure.

 It measures the time of travel of an ultrasonic pulse passing through the concrete.
The apparatus for ultrasonic pulse velocity measurement consists of the following:
(a) Electrical pulse generator
(b) Transducer one pair
(c) Amplifier
(d) Electronic timing device

Pulse velocity tests measure the transit time of an ultrasonic pulse between two
transducers, a transmitter and a receiver. The velocity of the pulse can be determined
from the transit time and the distance between the transmitter and the receiver.
There are two methods of receiving the ultrasound waveform, reflection & attenuation.

To assess the uniformity and homogeneity of concrete.

Detection of presence of voids, cracks in the Rock.
Measurement of changes occurring with time in the properties of concrete.
To compare quality of two different concrete element.

Low cost
Equipments used are easy to handle.
No health hazards.
High penetrating power.
High sensitivity.
Greater accuracy.
Some capability in estimating the size, shape, nature of the flaws.
Portability.

Manual operation requires careful attention by experienced technicians

Difficulty in inspecting the parts which are irregular.
Requirement of the complaints.
Test objects should be water resistant.

Monitoring strength development or deterioration in laboratory specimens

subjected to varying curing conditions or to aggressive environment.
Measurement of in-situ concrete uniformity.
Detection of cracking & honeycombing in in-situ concrete.
Measurement of crack depth.
Strength estimation of in-situ concrete.
Assessment of in-situ concrete deterioration.
Measurement of layer thickness in in-situ concrete.
Measurement of elastic modulus of in-situ concrete.

The pulse velocity method is an ideal tool for establishing whether concrete is
uniform.
Applied to both existing structures and those under construction.
High pulse velocity readings are generally indicative of good quality concrete.

The principle used in the E-Meter Mk II is based upon the determination of the
fundamental resonant frequency of vibration of a specimen generated by an impact & sensed
by an accelerometer. The frequency spectrum is computed & displayed by the meter.

1. Conforms to ASTM C-215 and C-666.

2. The method of calculating the following material parameters nondestructively:

Young's Modulus of Elasticity.

Modulus of Rigidity.
Poissons Ratio.
Damping Constant.

3. Available for specimen sizes up to 6 inches (150mm) cross section dimension and
from 1.75 inches (45mm) to 28 inches (700mm) in length.
4. Automatic identification of the resonance frequency.
5. Data can be stored & uploaded to a PC for further analysis & inclusion in reports.
6. Fast and easy to use system.

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Influence of Mix Proportions and Properties of Aggregates.

Specimen-Size Effect.
Influence of Curing Conditions

Freeze & Thaw Analysis.

Young's Modulus Determination.
Damping.
Coefficient Analysis.

Resonant Inspection is very suited to inspecting mass produced parts, and it is easily able to
detect "outliers" or components that differ from the normal production.

The instrument is based upon measurement of change of an electromagnetic field

caused by steel embedded in the concrete.

To determine
1. Diameter of reinforcement.
2. Location of a rebar.
3. Cover.
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5.

Eddy current design for greater accuracy.

Single sensor for all depth ranges.
Daylight visible display.
Locates up to 8", (200mm).
Economical.

1. Cover measurement may be affected by neighboring bars parallel to the bras

being measured.
2. Magnetic effects from the aggregate and matrix of the concrete.
3. Variation in the properties of steel.
4. Cross sectional shape of bars.
5. Roughness of surface.
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Rebar Locating Detection and Orientation.

Measurement of Concrete Cover.
Concrete Drilling and Sawing.
Repair and Rehabilitation.
Location of Pre-stressed Cables.
Contractors.

Impact-echo is a method for nondestructive testing of concrete & masonry structures

that is based on impact-generated stress waves that propagate through concrete & masonry
are reflected by internal flaws & external surfaces.

A short-duration mechanical impact is produced by a tapping small steel sphere against a

concrete or masonry surface, produces low-frequency stress waves (up to about 80 kHz)
that propagate into the structure are reflected by internal flaws & external surfaces. The
wavelengths of these stress waves are typically between 50mm to 2000mm, longer than
the scale of natural inhomogeneous regions in concrete (aggregate, air bubbles, microcracks, etc.).

Impact Echo testing has many applications, including:

1. Quality control programs, such as measuring pavement thickness or assessing pile
integrity.
2. Routine maintenance evaluations to detect cracks, voids, or delamination in concrete
slabs.
3. Delineate areas of damage & corrosion in walls, canals & other concrete structures.
4. Assess quality of bonding and condition of tunnel liners.

This test method used as a substitute or in conjunction with coring to determine the thickness
of slabs, pavements, decks, walls, or other plate structures.
The absolute systematic error depends on the plate thickness, the sampling interval and the
sampling period.

This test is measured the strength of concrete specimen or structure by means of special
tension jacks that are usually used to be inserted in test specimen.

1. Determine in-situ compressive strength of the concrete

2. Ascertain the strength of concrete for carrying out post tensioning operations.
3. Determine the time of removal the forms & shores based on actual in-situ strength of the structure.
4. Terminate curing based on in-situ strength of the structure.
5. Structure may be placed into service.
6. Winter protection and curing may be terminated.

The relationship between pullout strength & compressive strength is needed to estimate in place
strength.

a) (LOK test LOK meaning punch).

b) (CAPO test- cut and pull out test).