Nondestructive Testing & Evaluation

Assessment of concrete, building materials, and structural systems

LOCATE DISCONTINUITIES BOND STRENGTH EVALUATION

How to determine if concrete possesses crack- How to verify installation of fiber-reinforced
ing, honeycombing, delaminations, and other polymer and other coatings to concrete and
discontinuities (without damaging the struc- steel structures?
ture)?  Evaluate coating for delaminations and air voids
 Using the impact-echo method, the integrity of using acoustic and ultra-
the concrete structure can be evaluated (ASTM sonic techniques.
C 1383).  Measure bond tension
1. Create impact on concrete surface to gen- strength of coating-
erate acoustic waves. substrate interface (ASTM
2. Waveforms respond to the characteristics D 4541).
of concrete.
3. Analyze waveforms to assess concrete.

LOCATE REINFORCEMENT
How to confirm size and location of steel rein-
forcement, pipes, conduit, or bolts?
 For pavement and slab evaluations, ground
penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to create
a three-dimensional image from a series of
scans along the surface (ASTM D 6432).
 A pachometer (i.e. covermeter) can be used to
quickly locate conduit and pipe at shallow
STRENGTH PREDICTION depths

How to determine the in-place compressive

strength of concrete?
 For early-age concrete, the heat of the cement
hydration can be measured and used to deter-
mine strength (ASTM C 1074).
 For existing structures, a correlation curve can
be developed between the concrete’s strength
and its acoustic properties. Prior to concrete placement GPR scan

For more information on the nondestructive testing

services offered by Paradigm Consultants, Inc.,
please contact Jacob Borgerson at 713.686.6771 or
jacob@paradigmconsultants.com.

Geotechnical Engineering ● Construction Materials Engineering and Testing

Nondestructive Testing ● Environmental Engineering
Forensic Investigations ● Expert Testimony ● Specialized Testing

Paradigm Consultants, Inc.

2501 Central Parkway, Suite A3
Houston, Texas 77092
O: 713.686.6771 F: 713.686.6795
www.paradigmconsultants.com