TY - JOUR A1 - Helmerich, Rosemarie A1 - Milmann, Boris A1 - Wöstmann, Jens T1 - Non-destructive detection of surface-bond defects in carbon composite-strengthened concrete structures N2 - For almost 15 years, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates and sheets have been used for strengthening and repair of civil engineering structures. CFRP plates were applied to upgrade structures for change in use or increasing traffic load. CFRP laminates have also been used to repair deteriorated structures such as multi-storey parking or bridges. The execution quality and condition of the strengthening measure in terms of bond integrity were neither monitored nor tested systematically. Inspectors eventually applied simple hammer knocking during regular main inspection for subjective noise distinction as a measure for eventual insufficient bond. This paper presents the feasibility and the limitations of low-frequency transversal ultrasonic waves with dry-coupling point-contact sensors for inspection and defect detection between CFRP laminate and concrete surfaces. The German Centre of Competence in Civil Engineering (DIBt) has initiated a national research project [Helmerich et al. (2012). Condition analysis of bonded CFRP-applications on concrete structures by means of non-destructive testing [in German: Zustandsuntersuchung von CFK-Klebeverstärkungen an Betonbauteilen mittels zerstörungsfreier Prüfung (ZfP)]. Final, internal project report], carried out at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Germany. The aim of the project was to present a potential non-destructive testing method for bond defect detection as a measure for the durability of the strengthening system more than 10 years after application. KW - Concrete bridges KW - Strengthening KW - Non-destructive testing KW - Composite materials KW - Durability KW - Inspection PY - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2013.879322 SN - 1573-2479 VL - 11 IS - 1 SP - 3 EP - 14 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London [u.a.] AN - OPUS4-33086 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hong, Shuxian A1 - Lai, W.-L. A1 - Helmerich, Rosemarie T1 - Experimental monitoring of chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion and chloride contamination in concrete with ground-penetrating radar N2 - In this article, we present a laboratory experiment to monitor the accelerated corrosion in concrete using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Four concrete test specimens were cast with rebars of different size and placed at different depths. The lifetime decades of reinforcement corrosion process were accelerated into 18 days by using the impress current technique. The electrochemical corrosion process was periodically monitored with GPR. Two control specimens were also prepared to investigate the influence of chloride contamination on GPR signal. The measured data were analysed both in time and frequency domains. In time domain, the peak-to-peak amplitude of a wave reflected by a rebar was calculated to investigate the relationship between an increase in signal amplitude and the degree of corrosion. In frequency domain, the time–frequency representations of the signal were computed by using S-transform. The results show that reinforce corrosion increased the amplitude of reflected signal in time domain but did not change the peak frequency in frequency domain while chloride contamination attenuates the signal to smaller amplitude and lower peak frequency. Based on the results, a novel process is finally proposed for GPR-based corrosion detection. KW - Non-destructive KW - Reinforcement corrosion KW - GPR KW - Chloride KW - Moisture KW - S-transform PY - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2013.879321 SN - 1573-2479 VL - 11 IS - 1 SP - 15 EP - 26 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London [u.a.] AN - OPUS4-33085 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -