Integrity Assessment

Techniques

MAB1033 Structural Assessment & Repair

Prof. Dr. Azlan Abdul Rahman
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

Introduction
Integrity assessment involves either,
Determination of localised integrity
of a
particular element, or
General assessment of behaviour of
entire
structure.
2

Reasons for Integrity Assessment

Assessment of fire damage or other
accidental
damage.
Assessment of effects of overloads.
Detection of delaminations.
Detection of construction defects.
Identification of hidden construction details.

Range of Testing Methods

Rebound Hammer (surface hardness)
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV)
Dynamic Response
Radiography
Radiometry
Thermography
Radar
4

S urfa ce Ha rdn ess Tes t

A Rebound (or Schmidt) Hammer consists of a mass
impacting the concrete surface with a standardized
energy and causing localized crushing.
The amount of rebound of the mass is measured &
expressed as a rebound number.
A quick & simple test but not recommended for
absolute
strength assessment.
Strength correlations provided with the equipment
should only be used when confirmed by calibration
trials
for the condition of use.
5

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The Rebound Hammer

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The Rebound Hammer

The Rebound Hammer

Conventional
Rebound Hammer

Calibration Anvil Digital Rebound

Hammer in Use

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The Rebound Hammer

Digitalized Rebound Hammer
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Use of the Rebound Hammer

10

Rebound Hammer Test

11

The Rebound Hammer (contd.)

Results of rebound hammer are affected by
conditions within 30mm of the surface & may be
greatly influenced by localized carbonation
hardening in concrete > 3 months old & member
rigidity.
Use is most reliable in determination of uniformity
of
young concrete with CoV of 4% on good concrete.
Details of test described in BS1881 Part 202.

12

Rough Guide on Rebound Hammer

Concrete
Quality
Assessment

Rebound
Hammer Nos.

Probable Concrete
Strength (N/mm2)

< 25

20

Poor

25 35

20 30

Intermediate
13

Factors Affecting
Rebound
Hammer Test
Mix characteristics
Concrete maturity
Moisture conditions
Nature of surface finish
Instrument orientation (horizontal, vertical etc.)
Surface carbonation hardening
Inadequate member rigidity
Test located on aggregate particle at the surface.
Reinforcement close to the surface.

14

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity

Measurements are made of the transit time of a
high-frequency pulse (typically 54kHz) over a
measured path length between transducers placed
on the concrete surface
Well established method, quick & reflects the
characteristics of the interior of a concrete member.
UPV test method is well documented in BS 1881
Part
203.

15

The UPV
Equipment

16

Modern Version of PUNDIT

Principle of Pulse Measurement

The UPV Measurement

T

Pulse
Path

void

18

The Pulse
Velocity

Pulse
Velocity
(km/sec)

Path Length(m)
=

Transit Time
(microsec)

19

Rough Guide UPV

Pulse Velocity
(km/sec)
> 4.5

Probable Concrete
Quality

Excellent

3.5

4.5

Good

3.0

3.5

Fair (Doubtful)

2.0

3.0

Poor
20

Direct UPV Measurements

R

Direct

Semi-direct

Indirect

21

UPV Measurement (contd.)

Most reliable applications are for determination of
concrete
uniformity & the location of internal defects.
Strength estimation may be possible with the aid of
correlation charts.
Access is required to opposite faces of the concrete
member
for the most reliable results & surface staining may result
from use of couplants.
Erroneous results may be caused by : poor surface
coupling,
internal air-filled cracks or voids, reinforcement bars, small
path length or small lateral dimensions.
Corrections may be made for the presence of reinforcing
bars close to the pulse path if unavoidable.
22
A 2% change in UPV if often regarded as indicative of a

Dynamic Response : Pulse Echo Tests

Involves the measurement at a concrete surface of the
internally reflected shock waves from a single hammer
blow or similar impact on the surface.
An accelerometer placed on the concrete surface is used
to
monitor stress waves resulting from the impact & the
output is displayed visually as a digital reading of the
amplitude using simple hand-held equipment or
oscilloscope.
Pulse-echo technique using instrumented hammer is
wellestablished in the field of pile testing and are widely used
to assess length & uniformity.
23

Principle of Pulse Echo

Receiver
& Display

Hammer
blow

Concrete
surface or
major
delamination

24

Pulse Echo / Impact Echo

25

Impact Echo

Instrumented Hammer

27

Pile Integrity Assessment

28

Delamination or Flaw Detection

29

Other Flaw-Detection Methods

Acoustic Emission

Ultrasonic Flaw Detection Method

Boroscope for Internal Examination

Radiography
This provides a photograph of the interior of a
concrete member indicating variations in density.
A beam of gamma ray is directed through the
concrete towards a film held against the opposite
face (max. thickness 500mm)
Voids, poor compaction & reinforcement can be
located.
Details of technique in BS1881 Part 205.

31

Principle of Radiography

X-ray
sensitive
film

X-ray or
Y-ray
source

32

High Energy Radiography

33

Radiometry
A beam of gamma rays is directed at the concrete
&
the intensity of radiation emerging is measured by
means of a Geiger counter to indicate concrete
density.
Direct measurement may be made of radiation
passing through a concrete body up to 600mm thick.
In backscatter method, radiation is reflected back
to
the same surface. Easier to perform.
34

Radiometry : Backscatter Method

Detector

Radioactive
source

Neutron
paths
35

Thermography
Based on measurement of surface temperature differentials
on concrete member while heating or cooling.
Infra-red measurement techniques are necessary to detect
&
record small temperature differentials.
The method does not require contact with the concrete
surface & can be used with measurement equipment some
distance away provided that effects of extraneous heat
sources can be avoided.
Applications : detection of delamination in bridge decks;
location of moisture or major ducts or voids within walls or
slabs; evaluation of pavements.

36

Infrared Thermography for Building

Inspection

Radar Method
Specialized surface-penetrating radar scanning equipment
may be used to identify reinforcing bars, voids,
delaminations,
ducts & similar features.
Equipment consists of transmitting & receiving antennae
together with a control unit & recorder.
Resolution obtained depends on frequency used (1 GHz is
typically used for investigating concrete up to 500mm thick).
Results either provided in the form of graphic recorder
trace,
or as colour display with facilities for signal processing to aid
interpretation (based on pattern recognition).

38

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Principle of Surface Penetrating Radar

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Transmitter

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feature

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Ground Penetration Radar (GPR)

Receiver

Reflection from Defe:-:1

Reflection from Bottom SuifER:c.:

Ground Penetrating Radar system over a defect.

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from a post-tension tendon survey.
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