TY - JOUR A1 - Beutel, R. A1 - Reinhardt, H.-W. A1 - Grosse, C.U. A1 - Glaubitt, A. A1 - Krause, Martin A1 - Maierhofer, Christiane A1 - Algernon, Daniel A1 - Wiggenhauser, Herbert A1 - Schickert, M. T1 - Comparative performance tests and validation of NDT methods for concrete testing JF - Journal of nondestructive evaluation N2 - Validation of non-destructive testing methods is necessary to create a common basis where different systems can be compared and their applications and limitations be identified. This can be achieved through comparing the measurements taken by several systems used for a common diagnostic purpose under practical but controlled testing conditions. Well-designed small and large laboratory or field specimens promise such conditions. The special concrete specimen (LCS) at BAM was constructed for validation purposes, in particular, to be used for evaluating the performance of echo methods. The thickness of the specimen is varying and it contains carefully designed built-in faults, such as voids, honeycombs and tendon ducts with various degrees of grouting defects. Since the geometry and condition of the defects are known, it can be used to compare the performance of radar, ultrasonic, impact-echo. The research was conducted within the Research group FOR384, sponsored by the German Research Society DFG. KW - Performance demonstration KW - Non-destructive testing KW - Concrete KW - Radar KW - Ultrasound KW - Impact-echo PY - 2008 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10921-008-0037-1 SN - 0195-9298 SN - 1573-4862 VL - 27 IS - 1-3 SP - 59 EP - 65 PB - Plenum Press CY - New York, NY AN - OPUS4-17925 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Algernon, Daniel A1 - Wiggenhauser, Herbert T1 - Impact echo data analysis based on Hilbert-Huang transform JF - Transportation research record N2 - Impact echo is an acoustic method based on the use of transient stress waves generated by an elastic impact; it is used for nondestructive testing of concrete structures. In practical applications, the signals obtained often are superimposed by further mechanical vibrations and the so-called geometry effects, which are caused mainly by surface waves. Because of attenuation in the concrete as well as the divergence of the acoustical waves, impact echo signals are transient. As a result, the frequency content changes over time. Normally the analysis is carried out on the Fourier power spectrum of the signal. However, the Fourier spectrum is still affected by the mentioned effects and has well-known deficiencies for short transient signals within longer time sweeps. Application of the Hilbert-Huang transform is presented as a refined method for the time-frequency analysis of nonstationary impact echo data. The basic properties of the method and its practical application for time-frequency analysis of impact echo data, signal filtering, and pattern identification are presented. KW - Impact echo KW - Hilbert-Huang transformation PY - 2007 DO - https://doi.org/10.3141/2028-16 SN - 0361-1981 VL - 2028 SP - 146 EP - 153 PB - National Research Council CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-20790 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Helmerich, Rosemarie A1 - Niederleithinger, Ernst A1 - Algernon, Daniel A1 - Streicher, Doreen A1 - Wiggenhauser, Herbert T1 - Bridge Inspection and Condition Assessment in Europe JF - Transportation research record N2 - The European infrastructure asset has developed historically and is characterized by nation-specific construction processes. Inspection, condition assessment, and maintenance procedures differ from country to country. Because of historical and political circumstances, national infrastructure assets are maintained at different levels, too. Since the budget for maintaining the bridge infrastructure less and less meets the demands of a growing bridge stock, bridge inspection, maintenance, and life-cycle considerations gain higher importance. The need exists to develop effective diagnosis tools for early detection of construction faults, defects, and deterioration processes during inspection, to keep the bridge infrastructure at an acceptable level, from structural safety and economic viewpoints. An overview on the latest research projects and integrated bridge management systems in Europe is given. The potentials of nondestructive testing (NDT) are presented, with special focus on technical advances of NDT applications to reinforced concrete (RC) and posttensioned concrete bridges. Although NDT is not regularly integrated in these processes, the application brings valuable information on the current condition of the inner structure in called-in special inspections. NDT-automation and the application of imaging echo methods, combined with advanced data processing, produce a surprising level of information about the inner structure of massive RC slabs up to a depth of about 60 cm. Detected inhomogeneity and scatterers of acoustic or electromagnetic waves can be visualized in vertical or horizontal slices through the structure or animations. The fusion of different three-dimensional data sets of processed data improves the interpretability and accuracy of the results. KW - Category IIIC PY - 2008 DO - https://doi.org/10.3141/2044-04 SN - 0361-1981 VL - 2044 SP - 31 EP - 38 PB - National Research Council CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-18037 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -