NDT Tests

Planning In-Situ Testing of Concrete for Strength, Durability and Damages about:reader?url=https://theconstructor.org/concrete/in-situ-testing-of-co...
theconstructor.org
Planning In-Situ Testing of Concrete

for Strength, Durability and Damages
Madeh Izat Hamakareem
Planning in-situ testing of concrete for strength, durability and

damages includes considering the most suitable tests to obtain the
established goals of investigation, number of tests needed to show
the real state of the concrete, and the location of these tests.
Planning a program for in-situ testing of concrete will be described

in this article.
General sequential approach
Visual inspection
Test selection
Number and location of tests
General Sequential Approach for In-Situ Testing of

Concrete
It is significant to arrange an excellent program with analyzing and

interpretation as ongoing activity regardless the motivation or the
1 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
cause of the investigation.
Figure-1 illustrates a typical in-situ concrete test program and the

investigation is continuing until strong relevant result is reached.
Fig.1: Typical Stages of In-Situ Testing of Concrete
Visual Inspection for In-Situ Testing of Concrete
2 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
It is possible to obtain useful information especially when well

trained eye does visual inspection. Features of visual inspection
might pertain to workmanship, material deterioration, and structural
serviceability.
It is considerably significant for engineers to recognize various

types of cracks which are likely to be encountered; numbers of
typical cracks are shown in Figure-2.
Fig.2: Number of Typical Types of Cracks in Concrete
3 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
Honeycomb could be due to low standard workmanship however,

excessive bleeding or segregation at joints of shutters might be
resulted from issues in concrete mixtures and probably lead to
plastic shrinkage cracking.
Large deflections and flexural cracking could reflect structural

inadequacy and this often the cause for carrying in-situ assessment
of structures.
Structural movements, thermal movements, and long term

deflections are probably led to problems in door frames, cracking of
windows, cracking of structure or its finishes. In these situations,
visual inspection comparison of similar member may give important
information.
Material degradation is frequently shown by concrete spalling and

surface cracking and crack pattern assessment could give and
initial indication of the cause.
The most usual causes are steel bar corrosion resulted from
insufficient concrete cover thickness or large chloride concentration,
sulfate attack, frost action, and alkali aggregate reactions.
As shown in Figure-2, the signs of sulfate attacks are developing

arbitrary crack pattern with white layer leached on the surface but,
concrete splitting and spalling in the direction of steel bars are
assumed to be indications of reinforcement corrosion.
Occasionally, an alkali aggregate reaction is recognized by star

shaped crack pattern whereas irregular surface spalling might show
4 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
frost attacks.
It is reported that, regular crack mapping is an important technique

to identify deterioration reasons and progressions and it gives
detailed information about determination of crack types.
Table-1, which reported by Higgins, provides symptoms pertaining

to the most usual cause of deterioration.
With regard to damages resulted from fire, modification of concrete

surface color and texture could be beneficial guide and color
change is broadly accepted as sign of extent fire damage.
Not only does visual inspection carried out on concrete surface but
also it could include analyzing of drainage channels, expansion
joints, bearings, post tensioning ducts and other similar feature of
the structure. Ultra violet inspection systems can be beneficial to
recognize alkali aggregate reactions.
Table-1: Diagnosis of Deteriorations and Defects of In-Situ

Concrete
5 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
Concrete In-Situ Test Selection
After conducting visual inspection, numbers of factors for example

damage, cost, access, reliability, and speed are considered for the
selection of test for specific situation.
Durability Tests including Reasons and Amount of

Deterioration
Preliminary tests used to examine the threat of reinforcement

corrosion, which resulted from losing passivity due to chloride or
carbonation, are commonly reinforcement cover measurements,
chloride concentration, and carbonation depth in addition to half-cell
potential and resistivity testing to achieve more comprehensive
assessment of the large area.
If too much carbonation is discovered to be the reason behind

deterioration, absorption tests and petrographic analysis might be
carried out especially when knowing the cause of excessive
carbonation is required.
More details on various tests conducted to examine concrete

durability are provided in Table-2.
Table-2: Concrete In-Situ Durability Tests
6 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
In-Situ Testing for Concrete Strength
Core tests that are slow and expensive are the most effective
method to assess concrete strength. However, Pulse velocity and
hardness tests lead to minor damages and at the same time are
economical and quick.
Even though, these tests are perfect to comparative and uniformity

evaluation but their correlation to anticipate absolute strength
create many issues.
The result of core tests might be employed as base for calibration

of partially destructive and non-destructive test values which can be
7 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
broadly used later.
Most of normal weight concrete test methods can be used for

assessing light weight concrete strength but the correlation of the
results is different.
When the only requirement is comparison with similar concrete

quality, then test selection will depend on practical restrictions of
different tests and occasionally back up tests might be carried out in
some regions.
Table-3 provides different tests used to estimate concrete strength.
Table-3: Concrete In-Situ Strength Tests
8 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
Testing for Comparative Concrete Quality and

Localized Integrity
Comparative testing is the most dependable application of several

tests. Not only do these tests are led to small or no surface damage
but also most of them are quick to use by which large area can be
surveyed regularly. However, numbers of test methods require
complex and high cost equipment.
In-Situ Testing of Concrete for Structural Performance
Large scale dynamic tests can be used to observe the performance

of the structure. Nonetheless, large scale static load test in
conjunction with monitoring of cracks by acoustic emission may be
more suitable despite the cost and disruption.
The static load tests commonly include measurements of deflection

and cracking but problem with isolated individual elements could be
large.
Numbers and Locations for In-Situ Testing of Concrete
Setting suitable and adequate number of tests can be achieved

through compromising between accuracy, cost, effort, and damage.
Test results are related solely to the test locations from which test
sample were taken.
That is why engineering judgment is needed to specify test number

and locations and relevance of results to the entire member.
9 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
Therefore, connection between planning and interpretation of result

is extremely significant. Moreover, it is considerably important to
understand concrete variability adequately and have knowledge on
reliability of utilized test methods.
It is considerably important to obtain adequate accuracy when core

tests are used to determine concrete strength or employed as a
base for calibration of other methods of testing.
For comparative purposes, non-destructive tests are the most

efficient method because great number of location can test in short
time due to speed test.
Minimum 40 locations are suggested for a member over whom

tests stations are distributed uniformly, but smaller number of tests
is required for comparative purposes.
When other test methods such as internal fracture or Windsor

probe tests are used, practicalities may lead to decrease test
numbers. Furthermore, tests for material specifications compliance
should be made on typical concrete, so weaker top zones of the
element must be avoided.
It is recommended that, for columns, beams, and wall should be

taken around mid-height, and surface zone tests on slabs should
be limited to soffits except if the top layer is removed.
It is advised to take at least four core tests from suspected concrete

batch where specification compliance is investigated, and when
small cores is employed minimum of 12 tests are needed.
10 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
Finally, the numbers of load tests which are conducted on a

structure are restricted and should be taken at critical locations.
The critical or suspect areas can be determined with the help of
visual inspection and non-destructive tests.
Where destructive tests are carried out for members to give

calibration for non-destructive methods, they should be selected to
cover as wide a range of concrete quality as possible.
Table-4 Provides number of tests assumed to be equivalent to one

single result. The strength prediction accuracy based on reliability
of the correlation employed.
Table-4: Relative Number of Readings Recommended for

Various Test Methods
Test Methods Recommended

Number of Readings
at a Location
Standard cores 3
Small cores 9
Schmidt hammer 12
Ultrasonic pulse 1
velocity
11 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM
Internal fracture 6
Windsor probe 3
Pull-out 4
Pull-off 6
Break-off 5
Read More:
Interpretation of Concrete In-Situ Test Results for Strength Strength

Assessment
Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete
Basic Methods for NDT of Concrete Structures
Concrete Cube Test Results Acceptance
12 of 12 4/17/2017 11:11 AM

NDT Tests

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

NDT Tests

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Planning In-Situ Testing of Concrete for Strength, Durability and Damages about:reader?url=https://theconstructor.org/concrete/in-situ-testing-of-co...

Planning In-Situ Testing of Concrete

Planning in-situ testing of concrete for strength, durability and

Planning a program for in-situ testing of concrete will be described

General sequential approach

Number and location of tests

General Sequential Approach for In-Situ Testing of

It is significant to arrange an excellent program with analyzing and

cause of the investigation.

Figure-1 illustrates a typical in-situ concrete test program and the

Fig.1: Typical Stages of In-Situ Testing of Concrete

Visual Inspection for In-Situ Testing of Concrete

It is possible to obtain useful information especially when well

It is considerably significant for engineers to recognize various

Fig.2: Number of Typical Types of Cracks in Concrete

Honeycomb could be due to low standard workmanship however,

Large deflections and flexural cracking could reflect structural

Structural movements, thermal movements, and long term

Material degradation is frequently shown by concrete spalling and

As shown in Figure-2, the signs of sulfate attacks are developing

Occasionally, an alkali aggregate reaction is recognized by star

It is reported that, regular crack mapping is an important technique

Table-1, which reported by Higgins, provides symptoms pertaining

With regard to damages resulted from fire, modification of concrete

Table-1: Diagnosis of Deteriorations and Defects of In-Situ

Concrete In-Situ Test Selection

After conducting visual inspection, numbers of factors for example

Durability Tests including Reasons and Amount of

Preliminary tests used to examine the threat of reinforcement

If too much carbonation is discovered to be the reason behind

More details on various tests conducted to examine concrete

Table-2: Concrete In-Situ Durability Tests

In-Situ Testing for Concrete Strength

Even though, these tests are perfect to comparative and uniformity

The result of core tests might be employed as base for calibration

broadly used later.

Most of normal weight concrete test methods can be used for

When the only requirement is comparison with similar concrete

Table-3 provides different tests used to estimate concrete strength.

Table-3: Concrete In-Situ Strength Tests

Testing for Comparative Concrete Quality and

Comparative testing is the most dependable application of several

In-Situ Testing of Concrete for Structural Performance

Large scale dynamic tests can be used to observe the performance

The static load tests commonly include measurements of deflection

Numbers and Locations for In-Situ Testing of Concrete

Setting suitable and adequate number of tests can be achieved

That is why engineering judgment is needed to specify test number

Therefore, connection between planning and interpretation of result

It is considerably important to obtain adequate accuracy when core

For comparative purposes, non-destructive tests are the most

Minimum 40 locations are suggested for a member over whom

When other test methods such as internal fracture or Windsor

It is recommended that, for columns, beams, and wall should be

It is advised to take at least four core tests from suspected concrete

Finally, the numbers of load tests which are conducted on a

Where destructive tests are carried out for members to give

Table-4 Provides number of tests assumed to be equivalent to one

Table-4: Relative Number of Readings Recommended for

Test Methods Recommended

Interpretation of Concrete In-Situ Test Results for Strength Strength

Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete

Basic Methods for NDT of Concrete Structures