ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES AND TESTING

TECHNIQUES

A number of non-destructive, partially

destructive and destructive techniques
for assessment of concrete structures.
To predict the cause of deterioration of
the concrete in the existing structures
are available.
Interest in the field of Non-destructive
Testing
(NDT)
of
structures
is
increasing world wide.
These NDT techniques can be broadly
classified into following four groups:

STRENGTH TESTS
1. Schmidt Hammer Test
2. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity
3. Pull out and Pull off Tests
4. Core Test
5. Windsor Probe (or) Penetration
Resistance Test It is a form of
hardness testing
6. Pulse Echo technique

DURABILITY TESTS
1. Corrosion Test
2. Absorption and Permeability
3. Test for Alkali Aggregate
Reaction
4. Abrasion Resistance Tests
5. Rebar Locator Test - Using
cover meter (or) Profo meter

PERFORMANCE AND INTEGRITY TESTS

Infrared Thermography Test
Radar Test
Radiography and Radiometry
Tests
Acoustic Emission
Optical Fibre Test
Impact Echo Tests
Load testing Test
Dynamic Response
X-ray diffraction

CHEMICAL TESTS
1. Carbonation test
2. Sulphate Determination Test
3. Chloride Determination Test
To assess residual concrete strength after fire
1. Thermo luminescence Test.
2. Thermo gravimetric analysis tests using thermo gravimetric curves, temp.
of concrete during fire may be obtained
3. Differential thermal analysis.
4. Dilatometric test shrinkage of
concrete due to dehydration of
concrete (during fire)

With these test it would be

possible to know in-situ strength /
quality of concrete to precisely
identify the damage and causes of
the deterioration of the structure.
To predict the residual life and
measures to enhance the life of
the structures.
Details of few of these tests,
which are commonly used in
practice, are described below:

Schmidt Hammer Test

Schmidt Hammer Test is a quick

method for assessing the quality of
concrete based on surface hardness
indicated by the rebound number.
If the strength of concrete is high,
then the rebound number is also
high.
The principle of this test is that
when the plunger of rebound
hammer is pressed against the
surface of the concrete the spring
controlled mass rebounds.

The extent of such rebound depends

upon the surface hardness of the
concrete.
The surface hardness and therefore
the rebound number is taken to be
related to compressive Strength of
the concrete.
Rebound number values also depend
on the angle of measurement.
Factors influencing are
i)

Type of cement, Aggregate cement

content
ii) Type of Compaction, age of concrete,
moisture condition, temperature etc.

Aeration Tank

Plate Settling Tank

Rebound Hammer Test

Results of Rebound Hammer Test

Name of the Structure : Aeration tank
Sl. No.

Rebound Numbers

Average

Standard
Deviation

32

31

33

34

35

36

33.50

1.871

32

32

34

33

34

34

33.17

0.983

35

36

40

36

39

35

36.83

2.137

34

36

36

36

36

35

35.50

0.837

38

40

42

41

36

34

38.50

3.082

38

35

38

36

37

35

36.50

1.378

28

34

29

26

27

32

29.33

3.077

38

33

32

38

34

35

35.00

2.530

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (USPV)
method is being extensively used
to assess the quality of concrete.
This test is generally used for
measurement
of
concrete
uniformity,
determination
of
cracking and honeycombing, and
assessment
of
concrete
deterioration.
Strength estimation qualitatively
assessed.

The
Principle
of
USPV
measurement involves sending
electro-acoustic pulse through a
concrete path and measuring the
transit time taken, for a known
distance. Pulse velocity is then,
computed.
This pulse velocity depends mainly
on
elastic
modulus
of
the
concrete.
Any factor, which influences the
modulus of elasticity of concrete,
will also affect its pulse velocity.

 The direct method of testing is the

most reliable from the point of view
of transit time measurement.
As maximum pulse energy is
transmitted at right angles to the
face of transmitter.

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

Sludge Drying Beds

Results of UPV Test

Name of the Structure : Aeration Tank
Time (T)
(Seconds)
x10-6

Ultrasonic
Pulse Velocity
( V=L / T )
(km / sec)

Sl..No.

Path Length
(L) km
x10-3

0.5

125

4.00

0.5

123

4.07

0.5

115

4.35

0.5

116

4.31

0.5

116

4.31

0.5

121

4.13

0.5

118

4.24

0.5

116

4.31

0.5

111

4.50

10

0.5

112

4.46

Remarks

Carbonation Test

Concrete is having micro-pores and

these pores are filled with liquid,
having pH-value as high as 12.5. Thus,
concrete is alkaline in nature.

This alkalinity of the concrete is due

to (OH) ions in pore water.

Which are produced by the dissolution

of Ca(OH)2 from the solid phase of the
cement gel into the pore water and
from the caustic alkalis present
namely potassium and sodium oxides.

Carbonation of the concrete is the

reaction of Ca(OH)2 with the
atmospheric CO2, and its
conversion into CaC03.
This reaction lowers the pH-value
of the pore water to about 8.3
The outer zone of concrete is
affected first, but due to the
passage of time, carbonation
proceeds deeper into the mass as

If carbonation depth become equal to

cover of concrete, steel reinforcement
is then prone to corrosion damage.
By Carbonation test, we measure the
carbonated depth of concrete.
To determine the depth of carbonation
drilling of a hole is done in stages and
the
phenolphthalein
solution
is
sprayed in it after every stage.
As soon as the concrete become pink
drilling is stopped and the depth of
the hole measured.

Core Test

Core Test is one of the best methods

to assess the strength of the
concrete
in
reinforced
concrete
construction.
Compression
testing
and
Petrographic examination of cores,
cut from hardened concrete.
It is a well established and most
reliable
method
enabling
visual
inspection of the interior regions and
direct estimation of the strength.
The results obtained from the other
non-destructive tests are generally
verified using core test.

Core taking Machine

Carbonation Test