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The ultrasonic echo technique is widely used in non-destructive testing (NDT) of concrete objects for thickness measurements, geometry determinations and localization of built-in components. To improve ultrasonic imaging of complex concrete structures, we transferred a seismic imaging technique, the Reverse Time Migration (RTM), to NDT in civil engineering. RTM, in contrast to the conventionally used synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) algorithms, considers all wavefield types and thus, can handle complex wave propagations in any direction with no limit on velocity variations and reflector dip. In this paper, we focused on the development, application and evaluation of a two-dimensional elastic RTM algorithm considering horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves only. We applied the elastic SH RTM routine to synthetic ultrasonic echo SH-wave data generated with a concrete model incorporating several steps and circular cavities. As these features can often be found in real-world NDT use cases, their imaging is extremely important. By using elastic SH RTM, we were able to clearly reproduce almost all reflectors inside the concrete model including the vertical step edges and the cross sections of the cavities.We were also capable to show that more features could be mapped compared to SAFT, and that imaging of complex reflectors could be sharpened compared to elastic P-SV (compressional-vertically polarized shear) RTM. Our promising results illustrate that elastic SH RTM has the potential to significantly enhance the reconstruction of challenging concrete structures, representing an important step forward for precise, high-quality ultrasonic NDT in civil engineering.
Decades of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) for the quality assurance of concrete bridges revealed the necessity of developing procedures for building reference specimens for different defects. External objects have been widely used in specimen construction to represent defects. However, embedded materials can alter the actual defect characteristics, interrupting the NDE responses. This study proposes new approaches to fabricating reference specimens for reinforced concrete that feature substantial defects, including cracks, delamination, honeycombing and rebar corrosion, without external objects. As a result, realistic responses can be acquired to identify promising NDE methods for characterising actual deteriorations. The procedures were produced with the intent of being reproducible in any laboratory. Destructive and non-destructive testing methods were performed to verify the effectiveness of the processes in creating defects. This study provides research laboratories with techniques for
fabricating reference specimens for characterising defects and assessing the performance of NDE technologies.
Concrete structures are invaluable assets to a society and managing them efficiently and effectively can be supported by information gathered through structural health monitoring (SHM). In this paper, a combined approach based on passive, i.e., acoustic emission (AE), and active, i.e., ultrasonic stress wave (USW) monitoring techniques for application to concrete structures is proposed and evaluated. While AE and USW are based on the same underlying physics, i.e., wave motion in solids, they differ fundamentally with respect to the nature of the source. For the former, external stimuli such as mechanical loads or temperature cause the rapid release of energy from initially unknown locations. As a result, AE events are unique and cannot be repeated. For the latter, a known source at a known location is employed at a specified time. This approach is thus controlled and repeatable. It is
argued that a combination of these two techniques has the potential to provide a more comprehensive picture of ongoing fracture processes, damage progression, as well as slowly occurring aging and degradation mechanisms.
This combined approach does thus promise new opportunities to support condition assessment of concrete structures. After providing an overview and comparison of the two techniques, results, and observations from a full-scale laboratory experiment and an in-service bridge monitoring study are discussed to demonstrate the promise of the proposed combined monitoring approach. Finally, suggestions for further work are presented.
The corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete structures is one of the main threats to their durability. Based on the scientific achievements of the past decades the knowledge about the deterioration mechanisms and possible repair strategies for corrosion induced damages have found their way into practice.
It is common sense, that a detailed assessment of the structure is the foundation for a successful repair measure. In addition to the “traditional” singular on-site-procedures such as measurement of concrete cover, carbonation depth, half-cell potentials and chloride contents the monitoring of corrosion related parameters has gained in importance over the past few years.
The advantages of a corrosion monitoring are obvious. In new buildings, structural elements which cannot be assessed after completion (e.g. tunnel segments), or members with electrically isolating coatings can be monitored by means of integrated sensors providing an insight into the development of crucial parameters such as electrochemical potentials, corrosion currents and the electrical resistivity of the concrete. A less known but very beneficial field of application is the use of corrosion monitoring as an integral part of a repair measure based on principles such as the cathodic protection of steel in concrete (CP) or increasing the electrical resistivity of the concrete (IR). By implementing a corrosion monitoring system, it is possible to survey the time dependent effect of the repair measure on the corrosion process which may lead to a confirmation of successful repair measure or to a modification of the repair strategy.
As the principle of cathodic protection for steel in concrete is a recognized repair measure today, the number of applications increases steadily and thus increasing the relevance for corrosion monitoring. Nevertheless, no standards or guidelines concerning the corrosion monitoring are available in Germany today, making it difficult to implement corrosion monitoring in common practice.
With this in mind an international task group formed to develop the specification B12 “Corrosion Monitoring of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures” published by the German Society for Non-Destructive Testing, DGZfP, spring 2018.
This paper will present the new specification B12 by highlighting the basic measurement principles and illustrating the potentials of corrosion monitoring for new and existing concrete structures by means of case studies.
Protection and repair of concrete structures is one of the outstanding topics of the last 20 years of research and development in the concrete research. Reinforced concrete is spread technically relevant for approximate 100 years, as a new construction technology. For decades, concrete as a building material was established and known as a building material of unlimited possibilities and durability, to resist all exposures. The concrete structures were considered untouchable by environmental influences. But at least since the 70s of the 20th Century was obvious due to increased structural damage that concrete components and structures require special protection and rehabilitation measures. Otherwise they will not achieve their planned life time. In this period were also the development of the first regulations for the protection and repair of concrete structures, which were crucially shaped by the former senior public officials in Berlin, Germany. Since that time, for the different application areas: structural engineering, bridge engineering, power plant construction, drinking water construction, wastewater constructions, road and railway constructions, etc partly independent partly closely linked sets of rules were developed.
These national Standards have been superposed by the European harmonization of construction products in the late 90s. CEN as a European Standards Institution has published since 2009 in the EN 1504 series of six product Standards and 4 additional supporting Standards that should govern the repair area. On a world scale the ISO works in TC 71/SC7 on “Maintenance and repair of concrete structures” to develop regulations.
Currently in the whole African subcontinent no binding regulations for concrete repair are available, although a variety of concrete structures are present. There is thus the opportunity to adapt the rules as far as necessary and adapt to African conditions. The contribution would give a brief overview of the Standard techniques and the applicability in Africa.
Infrared thermography
(2012)