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On the background of the need for reuse of building rubble and the saving of natural resources, a European Union research project was performed covering concrete technology and durability aspects. A very special precondition was the use of large-scale processed building rubble with unknown origin and the total replacement of aggregates above 2 mm. Comprehensive tests were carried out on the properties of the starting material from different processing plants and fresh concrete, particularly the interdependence of water addition and wor ability. Investigations on hardened concrete properties included strength devel-opment, creep and shrinkage, modulus of elasticity, capillary absorption, freezing and thawing resistance, and carbonation behavior over a long period. The results demonstrate that the industrial production of a high-grade, durable concrete is possible. The project is a promising contribution for sustainable development.
The method requires two parallel boreholes in the specimen in which two microwave antennae can be moved. The moisture content in the material can be calculated from the microwave intensity transmitted between the two boreholes. Moisture profiles along the boreholes can be obtained by moving the antennae in steps along the length of the boreholes and taking measurements at each step.
The microwave frequencies used in the laboratory measurements ranged from 8 to 16.5 GHz in steps of 0.5 GHz. The diameters of the antennae were between 7 and 9 mm, and of the boreholes between 8 and 12 mm. The microwave method produced measurement uncertainties between 0 and 2% by volume for all the materials studied in this report.
Rapid and accurate non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques are needed to assess the in-place condition of concrete structures. However the time and effort required to perform NDE tests using conventional surface-mounted contact sensors hinder rapid evaluation of full-scale structures. The authors are cooperating in research to develop rapid and robust methods that collect mechanical wave signals from concrete structures and to characterize defects in concrete
using that signal data. The suitability of surface waves and laser-based, non-contact wave detection techniques for this purpose are examined here. After a brief introduction to non-contact sensing, an experimental set-up is described and results from experimental tests are presented. Mechanical surface waves in a concrete slab specimen are generated with several different conventional sources. The ability of a laser vibrometer to detect wave propagation from concrete that does not have any reflective treatment (normal concrete surface) is demonstrated, allowing the generation of ultrasonic images. Test results from a concrete specimen containing a subsurface defect are then presented. The obtained ultrasonic images illustrate some limitations of using surface waves to detect subsurface defects in concrete, although approaches to improve the results are proposed.
Characterization of bond performance of textiles in cement matrices using fiber optic sensors
(2002)
Today's civil engineering NDT needs are for quantitative, fast to apply and easy to interpret methods. They are required on site both for evaluation of existing structures/infrastructure and for quality control in new construction. With this purpose, BAM has carried out in-situ feasibility studies, using radar, impact-echo and ultrasonic-echo methods. Two examples are given of their combined application on different railway slab–track constructions, using high frequency radar, scanning impact-echo and ultrasonic array methods. The aim was to evaluate limitations and advantages, comparability and complementarity of these methods. The on-site measurements demonstrated the possibility to investigate, with good accuracy via NDT, the bonding conditions between sleepers and slab, to locate voids and measure layer thickness. The acoustic and electromagnetic methods used, were found to be complementary.
The application of impulse radar for structural investigation of concrete elements has been increased during the last years related to technical developments, i. e. of high frequency antennas. In this paper, case studies will be presented related to the location of reinforcing bars, tendon ducts and repaired concrete areas in concrete bridges, anchors and dowels in concrete highways and delaminations of layered structures as they are used for non-ballasted railway tracks. It is shown that impulse radar can be applied in case of regular inspection and for searching the cause of damages but also for quality assessment in civil engineering.
Active infrared thermography in civil engineering - quantitative analysis by numerical simulation
(2003)
The cooling-down process of building structures after heating-up with an external radiation source was analysed to detect voids inside and below the surface. Quantitative results of concrete test specimen containing voids with different sizes at various depths will be presented here. The experimental results were compared to numerical simulations performed with a Finite Difference program developed at BAM.
Ultrasonic reconstruction by the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) has a great potential to image concrete elements and detect embedded objects. Its algorithm focuses ultrasonic signals received at many aperture points by coherent superposition, yielding a high-resolution image of the region of interest. Using this approach, several problems caused by the strongly inhomogeneous structure of concrete are diminished, where scattering of transmitted pulses leads to disturbing phenomena such as attenuation and structural noise. This contribution is intended to review the work of the writers on the application of SAFT reconstruction to concrete testing. First, consequences of scattering of ultrasonic waves in concrete are qualitatively explained. Then the use of SAFT is discussed in comparison to traditional A-scan and B-scan techniques. Different reconstruction algorithms and implementations are presented for one-, two-, and three-dimensional SAFT. Pulse-echo measurement systems are described, which are able to acquire large sets of data on linear and planar apertures employing single transducer, transducer array, and scanning laser Doppler vibrometer arrangements. To illustrate the application of the SAFT techniques, examples from laboratory and field experiments are described comprising imaging of back walls, tendon ducts containing faults, layers, and reinforcement in concrete elements.
New thermography systems enable the application of active investigation techniques, i.e. the observation of the cooling down process after heating the surface of a structure under investigation. Defects like voids in concrete having a different thermal diffusivity in comparison to the bulk material are visualised by different surface temperatures. The differences between temperature transient curves above sound regions and above inhomogeneities are expected to include information about the defect parameters.
Experimental investigations with impulse thermography and radar on a concrete test specimen containing voids were analysed. Radar was used to determine the depth of the voids. The influence of size and depth of the voids on the temperature transient curves was studied for different heating times. The transient curves were also fitted with a simple semi-empirical model.
The structural safety, durability and performance of the infrastructure is of primary interest in every country. An efficient system for early and regular structural assessment as well as for quality assurance during and after the construction of new structures and of reconstruction processes is urgently required. At BAM, NDT methods to be applied in civil engineering are developed and their application improved. From the experience of on-site assessments, quality assurance systems and methodologies for regular inspections are elaborated. This work is mainly performed in the frame of externally funded research projects.
Impulse-thermography has been established as a fast and reliable tool in many areas of non-destructive testing. In recent years several investigations have been done to apply active thermography to civil engineering. For quantitative investigations in this area of application, finite difference calculations have been performed for systematic studies on the influence of environmental conditions, heating power and time, defect depth and size and thermal properties of the bulk material (concrete). The comparison of simulated and experimental data enables the quantitative analysis of defects.
In impact-echo testing of finite concrete structures, reflections of Rayleigh and body waves from lateral boundaries significantly affect time-domain signals and spectra. In the present paper we demonstrate by numerical simulations and experimental measurements at a concrete specimen that these reflections can lead to systematic errors in thickness determination. These effects depend not only on the dimensions of the specimen, but also on the location of the actual measuring point and on the duration of the detected time-domain signal.
Impulse-thermography is an active method for quantitative investigation of the near surface region of various structures which has recently been applied to civil engineering. It is well suited for the detection of voids and honeycombing in concrete up to concrete covers of 10 cm and more. For quantitative analysis, a computer program for numerical simulation of the heating up and cooling down processes was developed based on Finite Differences. With this program parameter studies have been performed for investigating the influence of environmental conditions, material parameters and geometry on the thermal behaviour. The comparison between experimental and simulated results enables the Inverse Solution.
The search for durable and sustainable construction materials inspires the developments in the world of cement concrete, as well as in the world of concretepolymer composites. Both worlds recognize, strive for and accept each others contribution to the synergetic effects that are realized by the combination of classical building materials and polymers. A better knowledge of materials behaviour, especially in the field of admixtures, and a better understanding of curing processes allowed the development of highly performing mineral or modified mineral concretes, mortars and grouts. CPC-science becomes an invaluable element in the development of sustainable construction materials. ICPIC brings together practitioners and scientists, dealing with concretepolymer composites in all industrial fields, but with emphasis on construction industry. The 11th International ICPIC Congress took place in Berlin, 24th June 2004. New trends and evolutions have been presented and discussed. The highlights of the Congress, and the synergies for the construction world that emerge from this congress on polymers in concrete in combination with cement concrete, are presented.
The applicability of pulse phase thermography (PPT) for the investigation of structures is studied systematically on concrete test specimens and on a plastered sandstone column. In the test specimens, voids and delaminations are implemented in different depths and with different sizes, modelling real voids, honeycombing and debonding. Delaminations of plaster in concrete and masonry and behind tiles on concrete are investigated. PPT is based on the frequency analysis of the cooling down process of actively heated surfaces. Therefore, it is contactless and thus completely non-destructive (if overheating of the surface is prevented), fast and allows the inspection of large surface areas. The interpretation of amplitude and phase images gives semi-quantitative information about the observed defects. The phase images provide a deeper probing up to 1015 cm in relation to the interpretation of the thermograms and to the amplitude images. In addition, the influence of surface inhomogeneities and non-uniform heating is reduced.
An advanced quantitative approach of pulse-phase-thermography for nondestructive
testing in civil engineering is described in this contribution. The
characteristic frequency of the maximum phase-contrast between defects and sound
areas is used as a means for the characterization of its depth.
The new approach is tested in the laboratory on concrete structures with defects of
polystyrene. The surfaces of the structures were heated with IR-radiators for varying
time periods.
The presented investigations were funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(DFG) and were carried out in co-operation with the Technical University of Berlin
(TUB).
The active approach for non-destructive-testing in Civil Engineering (NDT-CE) with infraredthermography (IR), developed at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), is described in part one of this contribution. The active IR-approach is based on the principles of impulse- (IT) and pulse-phase-thermography (PPT). The concept is a direct result of a research project at the BAM in cooperation with the Technical University of Berlin (TUB) and was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). In the second part results of the new thermography-scanning system (thermo-scanner) of BAM on debonding of multi-layered structures, especially carbon fibre reinforced plates (CFRP) on concrete are presented. Both, the thermo-scanner developed at BAM, and the investigations carried out, are part of the
EU-Project Sustainable Bridges. In the third part of the paper the characteristic frequency of the optimum phase-contrast as a means for the characterization of defects depth in CE by means of PPT is introduced. A new quantitative approach is tested and discussed on concrete structures with defects of polystyrene and gas concrete.
The interaction of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MSWI bottom ash), when utilized as an aggregate in concrete, with the cement matrix was investigated. The most prominent reaction observed in lab and field concrete was the formation of aluminium hydroxide and the release of hydrogen gas from aluminium grains reacting in the alkaline environment. The expansive aluminium reaction was identified as a main cause of extensive spalling on the concrete surface. Due to the higher content of bottle glass as part of the ash, in all samples, reaction products of an alkali-silica reaction (ASR) could be observed as well. However, damage due to ASR were less severe than those caused by the aluminium reaction. The expansion rates were low and only a few of the lab samples showed cracking. Microstructural analysis of the samples indicated clearly that a large quantity of the alkali-silica gel which was formed was accommodated in the pores and voids without exerting any strain on the material.
Ultrasonic Reflection Properties at Interfaces Between Concrete Steel and Air: Imaging and Modelling
(2006)
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy has been used for quantitative measurement of trace elements, e.g. sulfur and chlorine, in concrete. Chloride and sulfate ions have a large effect on the durability of concrete structures, and quantitative measurement is important for condition assessment and quality assurance. Concrete is a highly heterogeneous material in composition and grain-size distribution, i.e. the spatial distribution of elements. Calibration plots were determined by use of laboratory-made reference samples consisting of pressings of cement powder, hydrated cement, cement mortar, and concrete, in which the heterogeneity of the material is increasing because of the aggregates. Coarse aggregate and cement paste are distinguishable by the intensity of the Ca spectral lines. More advanced evaluation is necessary to account for the effect of the fine aggregate. The three series of reference samples enable systematic study of the effects of heterogeneity on spectral intensity, signal fluctuation, uncertainty, and limits of detection. Spatially resolved measurements and many spectra enable statistical evaluation of the data. The heterogeneity has an effect on measurement of the sulfur and chlorine content, because both occur mainly in the cement matrix. Critical chloride concentrations are approximately 0.04% (m/m). The chlorine spectral line at 837.6 nm is evaluated. The natural sulfur content of concrete is approximately 0.1% (m/m). The spectral line at 921.3 nm is evaluated. One future application may be simultaneous determination of the amount of damaging trace elements and the cement content of the concrete.
Impulse-thermography is an active method for quantitative investigations of the near surface region of various structures. It has recently been applied and optimised to applications in civil engineering. By using either an internal or external heat source, parts of the structure under investigation are heated up and the transient heat flux is observed by recording the temperature change at the surface as a function of time. This method is very well suited for the detection of voids and honeycombing in concrete, up to concrete covers of 10 cm as well as for the location of delaminations in multi-layered systems (e.g. plaster on concrete, CFRP-laminates on concrete, asphalt on concrete). Also safety relevant defects like voids in tendon ducts and cracks in concrete could be recognised.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy has been employed for the investigation of the sulfur and chlorine content of building materials. Both, chloride and sulfate ions are major damaging species affecting the stability and lifetime of a structure. Chlorine and sulfur are mostly detected in the VUV and the NIR. In case of building materials the main elements like calcium or iron have many strong spectral lines over the whole spectral range, so that trace elements can only be detected in spectral windows unaffected from these lines. With regard to a preferably simply, robust against dust and vibrations and portable setup only the NIR spectral features are used for civil engineering applications.
Most detectors, mainly CCD cameras have rapidly decreasing quantum efficiency in the NIR. Also the quantum efficiency of the photocathode of CCD-Detectors with image intensifier is decreasing in the NIR. Different CCD-detectors were tested with respect to high quantum efficiency and high dynamic range, which is necessary for simultaneous detection of weak spectral lines from trace elements and intense spectral lines from main elements.
The measurements are made on reference samples consisting of cement, hydrated cement, cement mortar and concrete with well-defined amounts of the trace elements. Experimental conditions are chosen for an optimum intensity of the trace element spectral lines. The detector systems are compared by limit of detections and the signal to noise ratio.
Pitting corrosion of carbon steel and iron in chloride containing alkaline environment is already well investigated, although a couple of questions are not clarified satisfactorily. The critical chloride content for steel in concrete and the critical chloride to hydroxide ion ratio for steel in alkaline solutions is still a major concern, considering chloride induced corrosion problems of steel in concrete. Another not satisfactorily clarified point is the repassivation of carbon steel in consequence of cathodic polarization. In the recent literature some indications are shown that repassivation occurs after a certain time of polarization. GLASS [4-9] and PEDEFERRI [1-3] draw the conclusion that the ennoblement of open circuit potentials (OCP) indicates re-passivation effects due to cathodic polarization. SAGÜÉS [10] carried out potentiodynamic repassivation tests and draws the conclusion that the repassivation potential Er is nearly independent of the solution composition, but influenced by severity of corrosion attack and is in the potential range from - 0.8 V to - 0.4 V vs. Saturated Calomel Electrode (SCE). The transferability of SAGÜÉS results to questions concerning cathodic protection (cp) is questionable, as potentiodynamic polarization tests (PPT) give no information on changes induced by long time polarization.
Therefore, the investigations discussed in this paper aim to clarify, to what extend the re-passivation of carbon steel due to cathodic polarization occurs, and if the ennoblement of OCP is a sufficient indication for repassivation. In a first step the corrosion state of five nominal equal test specimens was determined by electrochemical techniques, i.e. electrochemical noise measurements (ENM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). After determining the initial corrosion state by evaluating the charge transfer resistance and the polarization resistance respectively as well as evaluating potential and current noise signals, the specimens were polarized cathodically. Impedance data were recorded previous to, during and after polarization. The impedance data were evaluated by equivalent circuit fitting with special attention to charge transfer resistances and diffusion properties. The results show that reduction of oxides and oxygen diffusion during cathodic polarization has strong impact on the systems behavior.
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.
An innovative application of ultrasonic testing using phased arrays for concrete components was investigated. A low frequency ultrasonic phased array consisting of ten transducers was used. This configuration allowed the variation and control of the sound field directivity during the measurement. The measurements were carried out on concrete test specimens using a scanning laservibrometer in through transmission mode. The laboratory measurements were compared to theoretical calculations to investigate the influence of shape and dimension of the transducer on the resulting sound field patterns. The technique was successfully implemented to detect an ungrouted tendon duct in a concrete block.
Influence of concret properties on the calibration of radar, ultrasonics and active thermography
(2008)
Non-destructive testing (NDT) of concrete structures plays an increasing role in civil engineering. This paper presents the results of systematic measurements carried out in the laboratory at BAM and on-site at several bridges using reconstructed and fused radar and ultrasonic echo data sets. For investigating the influence of concrete mixture, radar and ultrasonic measurements were performed at test specimens consisting of concrete mixtures with different pore content and distribution as well as with steel fibres. Further, it is demonstrated how the fusion of data sets recorded with different methods at the same structure (here: concrete bridges) enhances the information content in the fused data set. Different approaches for data fusion algorithms are discussed. The results of these investigations show the high potential of reconstruction and data fusion for the improvement and simplification of the interpretability of large data sets measured with impulse-echo methods. The presented results are based on the research project FOR384 funded by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).
Für die zerstörungsfreie Prüfung großer Betonbauwerke unter dem Aspekt der Analyse von Spannkanälen hat sich die Ultraschalltechnik in den letzten Jahren als geeignete Methode herausgestellt, da sowohl die Messtechnik insbesondere die Ultraschallwandler als auch die numerischen Auswerteverfahren in einem Stadium sind, das es erlaubt, größere Messflächen und damit größere Volumina zu beschallen und abzubilden. Mit Hilfe der Modellierung der Ausbreitung elastischer Wellen in komplexen Medien können praxisrelevante Problemstellungen untersucht werden, auch unter dem Aspekt, Testkörper zu planen oder gar zu ersetzen. Durch die Auswertung der Phase der Rekonstruktion eines Streuvorgangs können Fehlstellen klassifiziert und damit Aussagen über die Bauwerkssicherheit signifikant objektiviert werden. Die Methoden werden, im Hinblick auf eine ganzheitliche Sichtweise von skalaren und polarimetrischen Abbildungsverfahren mit Unterstützung der Modellierung und der anschließenden Klassifizierung durch Phasenanalyse, an ausgewählten Beispielen erläutert.
For nondestructive testing of concrete buildings under the aspect of tendon duct analysis, ultrasonic testing has proven to be a suitable method, as both the measuring technique in particular the acoustic sensors and the numerical methods allow the insonification and imaging of larger surfaces and volumes. With the aid of numerical modelling of elastic wave propagation in complex media real life problems can be examined with the goal to design or even to replace test specimen. By determination of the phase of an imaged scattering event, defects can be classified, and the prediction of the integrity of buildings can be significantly objectified. The methods are explained for selected examples in an integral way with respect to scalar and polarimetric imaging algorithms supported by modelling and subsequent classification through phase analysis.
As a result of their chemical and mineralogical characteristics, bottom ashes from municipal solid waste incinerators can, in principle, be used as aggregates in the production of normal strength concrete. However, because the ashes contain concrete-damaging components, such as chlorides, sulphates and organic compounds, or excessive quantities of fines, aluminium and waste glass, recycling becomes problematic. In particular, inclusions of aluminium in the ash particles and a glass content of about 15% cause considerable cracks and spalling in concrete specimens within a very short time. The harmful substances can be reduced or removed by additional treatments, such as upstream sieving and washing, waste glass separation, and lye treatment with sodium hydroxide solution. Tests on concretes with 232 mm bottom ash as coarse aggregates indicate that the quality of the ash is actually improved by the additional processing. Thus concretes with a compressive strength of C20/25 can easily be produced. Similar to concretes made with recycled aggregates, these concretes exhibit 15% lower compressive strength and E-modulus but twice the porosity of control specimens containing exclusively natural sand and gravel. However, only those concretes that were made with ash with a low aluminium content as a result of lye treatment remained free of damage.
Sulfate attack constitutes a major risk of chemical aggression for concrete and other building materials. Mainly structures exposed to sewage waters and sulfate rich soils are affected. The measurement of sulfate ingress is important for damage assessment previous to repair works and for quality assurance of the effectiveness of protecting coatings or during concrete removal.
Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy is introduced for the quantitative measurement of sulfur contents in building materials, providing detailed depth profiles and imaging element distributions with 1 mm spatial resolution. Detailed statistical evaluation is possible due to the spatial resolution and the fast measurement of the method. Practical applications of the method for damage assessment are demonstrated for three different sewage plants.
Die Dauerhaftigkeit von Betonbauteilen zu einer messbaren Größe zu machen, ist ein vorrangiges Ziel der Baustoffforschung. Schrumpfen, Schwinden und Temperaturverformungen gefährden bei Hochleistungsbetonen deren Dauerhaftigkeit. Die begleitende messtechnische Deformationsmessung wird daher zu einer unverzichtbaren Methode, Betonrezepturen zielsicher und ökonomisch hinsichtlich der Dauerhaftigkeit zu entwickeln. Ein flexibler Fabry-Pérot-Interferometer-Sensor ermöglicht die messtechnische Erfassung der frühen Deformationsprozesse bereits ab dem Moment des Betoneinbaus. Der Artikel zeigt das Sensorprinzip, Untersuchungen zur In-situ-Referenzierung und zur Rückwirkung des Sensors sowie dessen Einsatzmöglichkeiten in der Baustoff- und Materialforschung. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
The primary intention of construction materials research is to refer the durability of concrete members to a measurable parameter. Setting, shrinkage, and temperature deformations compromise the durability of high-performance concrete. The respective deformation measurement technology is becoming an indispensible method for the targeted and economic development of concrete mixtures with respect to durability. A flexible EFPI sensor enables the survey of early age deformations directly after placing the concrete. The paper deals with the sensor principle, investigations concerning in-situ referencing, and possible effects of the sensor on the matrix as well as its application in the field of materials research.
BETOSCAN - An instrumented mobile robot system for the diagnosis of reinforced concrete floors
(2009)
Impulse thermography is an active method for quantitative investigations of the near
surface region of various structures. It has recently been applied and optimized to applications in civil
engineering. For quantitative analysis of data recorded on the building site, the problems are manifold.
Here, the influence of the different surface properties on the detection and characterization of voids
and honeycombing simulated by polystyrene cubes and cubes prepared of porous concrete are
demonstrated.
The changes in the sonic surface wave velocity of concrete under stress were investigated in this paper. Surface wave velocities at
sonic frequency range were measured on a prismatic concrete specimen undergoing several cycles of uniaxial compression. The
loading was applied (or removed) gradually in predefined small steps (stress-controlled). The surface wave velocity was measured
at every load step during both loading and unloading phases. Acoustic Emission (AE) test was conducted simultaneously to
monitor the microcracking activities at different levels of loading. It was found that the sonic surface wave velocity is highly stress
dependent and the velocity-stress relationship follows a particular trend. The observed trend could be explained by a combination
of acoustoelasticity and microcracking theories, each valid over a certain range of applied stresses. Having measured the velocities
while unloading, when the material suffers no further damage, the effect of stress and damage could be differentiated. The slope
of the velocity-stress curves over the elastic region was calculated for different load cycles. This quantity was normalized to yield a
dimensionless nonlinear parameter. This parameter generally increases with the level of induced damage in concrete.
The delamination of a plaster layer, which covers a concrete structure, can be detected by active thermography. In this paper, a systematic series of measurements is described, where the gap between plaster and concrete was varied. These investigations were compared to FEM-simulations. The experimental and simulated data were in good agreement. It was found that the used experimental setup yields only marginal differences between fixed and lose plaster in the thermal behavior. However, significant characteristics within the temperature decays could be resolved, which are clearly related to the air gap.
Today modern reprocessing techniques lead to materials, which bear the potential to be used as aggregates or additives in mineral building materials. Because of highly sophisticated reprocessing techniques residues with relatively stable composition over a certain range and relatively defined properties can be produced. At the same time, new German and European regulations demand a waste management to decrease waste volume stored at landfills to save natural resources and to enhance sustainable development by recycling of diverse residues. This paper shows the activities of the working group 'Saving Resources by Material Recycling'.
Surface wave velocities over the sonic frequency range (<20 KHz) were measured on concrete specimens undergoing various cycles of loading and unloading. Acoustic Emission test (AE) was conducted simultaneously to monitor the microcracking activities. The sonic surface wave velocity was found to be highly stress-dependent. The observed changes in surface wavespeed are repeatable and follow a particular trend. By measuring the wave velocities in both loading and unloading phases, the effects of stress and stress-induced damages could be distinguished. The observed trend could be explained by a combination of acoustoelasticity and microcracking theories.
Coda wave interferometry is a recent analysis method now widely used in seismology. It uses the increased sensitivity of multiply scattered elastic waves with long travel-times for monitoring weak changes in a medium. While its application for structural monitoring has been shown to work under laboratory conditions, the usability on a real structure with known material changes had yet to be proven. This article presents experiments on a concrete bridge during construction. The results show that small velocity perturbations induced by a changing stress state in the structure can be determined even under adverse conditions. Theoretical estimations based on the stress calculations by the structural engineers are in good agreement with the measured velocity variations.
Nowadays there are several applications of mineral recycling materials and residues. At present an assessment method for the use of secondary raw materials, which considers sustainability aspects, does not exist. In the framework of the German DAfStb/BMBF research project 'Sustainable Building with Concrete' an assessment concept was developed. It includes the following four assessment steps: I. Basic considerations, II. Advantages for sustainable construction, III. Alternative paths for application, and IV. Sensitivity analysis. The concept was developed on the basis of recycled concrete aggregates, which are already used according to German standards. Afterwards, it was applied and verified by the evaluation of the utilisation of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ashes.
Ingenieurbauten des Bundesfernstraßenbereichs sind aufgrund ihrer Exposition an vielen Stellen besonders betroffen von Graffiti. Graffitischmierer nehmen hierbei keine Rücksicht auf die Art der Substratmaterialien, und besonders poröse Untergründe bereiten Schwierigkeiten bei der Reinigung. Um Baustoffoberflächen besser zu schützen und von Graffiti leichter reinigen zu können, wurden in den vergangen Jahren spezielle Prophylaxesysteme (Anti-Graffiti-Systeme, AGS) entwickelten. Für die Beurteilung der Funktionalität und Verwendbarkeit dieser Anti-Graffiti-Systeme wurden von der Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt) eine neue Technische Prüfvorschrift und Technische Lieferbedingungen (TP/TL AGS-Beton) erarbeitet. Die TP/TL AGS-Beton gilt hierbei nur für die Beurteilung von AGS auf Betonuntergründen. In einer Forschungsstudie wurde untersucht, inwieweit die vorhandene Prüfvorschrift für Betonsubstrate auch auf andere Untergründe, z. B. Naturstein oder Klinker, angewendet werden kann. Weiterhin wurde untersucht, welche Faktoren eine Rolle bei der Reinigung von mit AGS behandelten verschiedenen Substraten spielen.
Cementitious materials, in particular concrete, are durable materials if prepared appropriately and the Service life of concrete structures is now often required to last 120 years or more. Concrete durability depends strongly on intrinsic (e.g. composition, porosity) and exterior factors (e.g. moisture condition and composition, frost cycles, load pattem). Deleterious actions leading to concrete degradation are often created by the environment. Extemal sulfate attack is one of the more spectacular damage scenarios for concrete structures caused by the ingress of sulfate ions into the pore System of the material and successive formation of expanding phases. Though in recent years well studied there are still many questions remaining conceming the mechanisms of sulfate attack. In particular over the last ten years, with the increased utilization of blended cements, new questions arose concerning the sulfate resistance of those binder Systems. In the presented study therefore a method was developed to analyze the changes of the phase composition within the micro structure due to sulfate attack. The analytical method was based on pX-Ray diffraction (pXRD) using Synchrotron radiation in Debye-Scherrer (transmission) geometry. The spatial resolution of the method is ca. 10 pm and allows the characterization of phase transformations in the wake of damaging processes in more detail compared to other techniques. Furthermore, the experimental setup provides the possibility for analyzing the phase assemblage of a given sample without destroying the micro structure. This is possible because the specimens for phase analysis consists of thick sections, which can be used for further microscopic analysis of the micro structure and micro chemistry (e.g. by SEM-EDX). Samples containing supplementary cementitious materials were measured in comparison and to reconstruct the influence of the degradation process in detail. Additionally, reaction ffonts within the samples were localized by micro x-ray fluorescence analysis (MXRF).
Mechanisms of degradation of concrete by external sufate ions under laboratory and field conditions
(2011)
The durability of concrete is a major challenge for the construction, which devotes one third to one half of its annual investment to building maintenance. The lack of fieid data regarding concrete durability, especially in the case of exposure to Sulfate ions (“sulfate attack”) makes it dijficult to determine the appropriate fest methods andperformance criteria. Additionally, the increased use of sustainable blends (cement with mineral admixtures, typically slag from the iron industiy) suffers from a lack of experience regarding their long-term performance. Most results for sulfate resistance are derived from accelerated laboratoiy tests xvhere performance criteria are based only on macroscopic properties, especially expansion. To fill this gap and better widerstand the mechanisms of sulfate attack under real conditions, a parallel study of laboratoiy micro-concrete and fieid concrete samples under sulfate exposure was undertaken, focussing on microstructural changes in addition to the conventional macroscopic characterisation.
Four exposure regimes were designed in the laboratoiy: full immersion (ponding), pH-control, semi-immersion and wet/diy cycles. Pure Portland blends and slag blends witli high level of slag replacement (70 wt.-%) were investigated.
The exposure regime has been found to play a major role in the damage process. In ponding conditions, the damage process takes place in three stages characterised by a first period of induction, followed by surface damage thatfinally extends to the bulle of the material. Paradoxically, the w/c-ratio does not seem to have much impact on the ionic transport phenomena but might be more decisive in the microstructure mechanical strength against local stresses. The slag blends, considered as sulfate resistant in ponding exposure, revealed badperformances under wet/diy cycles. This beliaviour was attributed to poor proper physical resistance of the slag hydrates against diying.
The fieid concretes selected for the comparison with the laboratoiy cases were partially buried in a sulfate-enriched soil in Argentina. A pure Portland blend and a slag blends with high level of slag replacement (80 wt.-%) were investigated. The submerged part of the samples could be compared to the laboratoiy ponding exposure, wliile the upper layer of the samples subjected to weathering could be compared to the laboratoiy wet/diy cycles exposure. The fieid obsen’ations tend to confirm the laboratoiy results and validate the fest settings.
It has been underlined that a direct relationship between damage (e.g.; cracking/expansion) andphase assemblage was not evident. However, the study highlights that sulfate combination with the hydrates of the cement (e.g.; C-S-H) and with those of the slag would play a rote in the initiation of the expansion, which would be attributed to a swelling of the hydrates or to the precipitation offine ettringite after the Saturation level in sulfate of the hydrates has been reached.
Concrete technology was exposed to a rapid development during the last three decades. For the longest time in its history, concrete was considered as a three component System consisting of aggregates, which are bound by the hardened cement paste consisting of hydrated cement. Traditionally, the only way of adjusting the consistency of concrete was using well adjusted aggregates and grading curves and adding excess water to the concrete, accepting that the latter in return reduces strength and durability. During the last three decades, however, concrete has developed further from a three component System towards an (at least) five component system, since the use of mineral additions and Chemical admixtures has become state of the art. Both components are able to enhance the workability, the compactability, and the density of the microstructure with effects on strength, ductility and durability, while cement can be saved in parallel. Due to reasonable use of admixtures and additions, concrete can be designed to match mechanically high performance specifications. Traditionally, cement paste was considered the weakest component in concrete. Flowever, in modern concrete a good paste composition can yield highest performance, passing the role of the mechanical bottleneck towards the aggregates.
The delamination of concrete slabs is the separation along a plane roughly parallel to, and generally near, the surface. Corrosion-induced delamination is a common problem in old concrete bridge decks. If undetected, delaminations could expand, reach the surface, and result in spalling. Early detection of delamination is necessary for planning timely repairs that prevent costly deck replacement projects. Most bridge owners rely on routine visual and traditional surveys of bridge deck conditions. These surveys are highly subjective and can locate only large shallow delaminated zones. Several nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques have recently been employed for bridge deck evaluation to obtain more objective and comprehensive assessment. The reliability of applicable methods needs to be established before a greater role for NDT in routine inspections can be encouraged. This paper presents a validation study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of three NDT techniques, namely impact echo, ultrasound (US) echo, and US linear array, in detection of delamination. This study is unique because the subject test specimens were deteriorated bridge deck segments preserved from the demolition of a prestressed box girder bridge. The results of the tests conducted on one of the specimens are presented and discussed here: impact echo provided satisfactory overall assessment, but the individual results were often difficult to interpret; US echo detected deep delaminations but not shallow ones; and US linear array located the extent of deep delaminations and provided indications of shallow ones.
This paper studies the dielectric dispersion of high frequency radar wave in concrete in early-aged and hardened concrete specimens. Frequency-dependent spectra of phase velocity ν(ω) were measured to deduce the spectra of real part of dielectric permittivity ε'(ω). The dispersion was measured by three high nominal ground penetrating radar frequencies (1.5, 1.6 and 2.6 GHz), experimenting on two steel bars with concrete cover 50 and 100 mm. It was found that ν(ω) and ε'(ω) dispersed at lower frequency, but became stable at high frequency regions, which agrees with the classical GPR plateau. The same frequency components at different nominal antenna frequencies show a close range of ν(ω) and ε'(ω) in concrete of different ages. The results in this paper warrant further investigation of using GPR wave to study material properties.
The goal of this study was to find a correlation between cleaning efficacy of substrates protected with anti-graffiti systems (AGS) and their porosity, surface roughness, and composition as well as usability of the Technical Testing Guideline for Anti-Graffiti Systems (TP-AGS, issued by BASt) for natural stone and brick/clinker masonry. The results showed that the cleaning efficacy mainly depends on the porosity of the substrate and the type of AGS. Also, higher surface roughness contributed to a lower cleaning efficacy. The results showed also that concrete panels and cement joints in masonry represented the worst case. The color change of all substrate materials compared to concrete was mostly within acceptable limits. Gloss changes were significant for a number of substrates. In particular, several of the wax-treated low-porosity substrates exceeded the threshold value of 10. The limit of water vapor permeability of the AGS prescribed in the TP-AGS might be too high for natural stone substrates. In general, the TP-AGS is useful for the determination of the efficiency factor of anti-graffiti agents on various substrates.
Sustainable evaluation - concept to assess the applicability of secondary aggregates in concrete
(2012)
Der Einsatz von Sekundärrohstoffen im Betonbau kann einen wesentlichen Beitrag zu einer nachhaltigen Ressourcenwirtschaft im Bauwesen leisten. Sekundärrohstoffe (Recycling-Baustoffe, RC-Baustoffe) finden bereits Anwendung als Roh- bzw. Brennstoffe in der Portlandzementklinkerherstellung, als Zementbestandteile, als Betonzusatzstoffe sowie als sekundäre Gesteinskörnungen in Beton. In einem Teilprojekt des DAfStb/BMBF-Verbundforschungsvorhabens 'Nachhaltig Bauen mit Beton' wurde das Einsatzpotenzial von Sekundärrohstoffen in Beton untersucht. Hierbei spielen sowohl technische als auch ökologische und ökonomische Fragestellungen eine wichtige Rolle. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurde eine Bewertungsgrundlage mit ganzheitlicher Betrachtung von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten (Technik, Ökologie, Ökonomie) ausgearbeitet. Dieses Bewertungskonzept umfasst die vier Bewertungsschritte: I. Grundsätzliche Überlegungen, II. Vorteile für das nachhaltige Bauen, III. Alternative Bewertungswege und IV. Sensitivitätsanalysen. Das Bewertungskonzept wurde am Beispiel der bereits im Betonbau eingesetzten rezyklierten Gesteinskörnungen entwickelt.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nowadays there are several applications of secondary mineral materials and residues. In the framework of the German research project 'Sustainable Building with Concrete', a concept to assess the applicability of already used and new secondary materials in concrete has been developed. It considers sustainability aspects and includes the following four assessment steps: I. Basic considerations, II. Advantages for sustainable construction, III. Alternative paths of application, and IV. Sensitivity analysis. Depending on changing technical, ecological and economic aspects, the assessment has to be performed for changed technical, ecological and economic conditions as necessity arises.
Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for fast analysis of ingress profiles of ions on concrete
(2012)
The reduction of the chromate contents in cements affects the electrochemical reactions of galvanized reinforcing steels in fresh concrete. By means of electrochemical measurements and bar pull-out tests the effect of chromates on the formation of protective coatings at the zinc and the bond behaviour have been investigated using chromate-containing and chromate-reduced cements. The results have shown that the bond zone was affected as a result of chromate reduction for cement types CEM I and CEM II. The disturbance to the bond zone should be considered as long-term in relation to the pore structure which is formed. The effects on the bond are largely compensated for as the concrete ages. The results of the related bond strength with displacement paths of 0.1 and 0.5?mm, respectively, are still within the range of expected figures for non-galvanized reinforcing steel despite the structural disturbance. Under practical aspects it is not necessary that the existing structural disturbance with respect to bond strength is taken into consideration.
Clearing the way
(2012)
A joint research project was accomplished by ibac and BAM with the aim to develop a numerical model
of cathodic protection (CP) of reinforced concrete with a special focus on CP of the rear reinforcement
layer. The model was intended to include the effects of chemical alterations within the concrete and the
steel concrete interface, which are induced by long-term application of CP. The investigations presented
in this paper focus on the migration of chloride ions due to small electric fields as applied during cathodic
protection of steel in reinforced concrete structures and its impact on polarisation characteristics. A
comparatively new method, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), was used to determine
chloride profiles on laboratory specimens in order to investigate one of several model parameters to
describe cathodic protection of the rear reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures. These
investigations are described elsewhere, [1].
The paper focuses on long term polarisation tests and their impact on the charge depending cathodic
polarisation behaviour of laboratory specimens.
Effects of amorphous nano-silica additions on mechanical and durability performance of SCC mixtures
(2012)
In the recent years the application of nanotechnology in building materials has increased
exponentially. One of the most referred and used nano-materials is amorphous silica with
particles size in the nano-range, even though its application and effect in concrete has not been
fully understood yet. It has been reported that nano-silica (nS) addition increases the
compressive strength and reduces the overall permeability of hardened concrete due to the
pozzolanic properties which are resulting in finer hydrated phases (C-S-H gel) and densified
microstructure (nano-filler and anti leaching effects). These effects enhance the durability of
concrete structures such as bridges, quays or off-shore oil facilities in marine environments.
In this study two different types of nano-silica were applied in self-compacting concrete (SCC),
both having similar particle size distributions (PSD) but produced in two different processes
(fumed powder silica and precipitated silica in colloidal suspension). The influence of nanosilica
on SCC was investigated with respect to the properties of concrete in the fresh state
(workability) and hardened state (mechanical properties and durability). Additionally, the
densification of microstructure of the hardened concrete was verified by SEM and EDS analyses.
The obtained results demonstrate that an efficient use of nano-silica in SCC can improve its
mechanical properties and durability. Considering the reactivity of the two nano-silica studied,
colloidal type shown more reactivity at early age, which influenced all the final SCC properties.
Ultrasonic echo testing is a more and more frequently used technique in civil engineering to investigate concrete building elements, to measure thickness as well as to locate and characterise built-in components or inhomogeneities. Currently the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT), which is closely related to Kirchhoff migration, is used in most cases for imaging. However, this method is known to have difficulties to image steeply dipping interfaces as well as lower boundaries of tubes, voids or similar objects. We have transferred a processing technique from geophysics, the Reverse Time Migration (RTM) method, to improve the imaging of complicated geometries. By using the information from wide angle reflections as well as from multiple events there are fewer limitations compared to SAFT. As a drawback the required computing power is significantly higher compared to the techniques currently used. Synthetic experiments have been performed on polyamide and concrete specimens to show the improvements compared to SAFT. We have been able to image vertical interfaces of step-like structures as well as the lower boundaries of circular objects. It has been shown that RTM is a step forward for ultrasonic testing in civil engineering.
Active thermography is sensitive to inhomogeneities at and below the surface of objects investigated. Thus, it should be useful for detecting plaster delaminations on concrete. In this paper, the results of field and laboratory investigations into plaster-covered concrete were compared. For evaluating the bonding state of the plaster it is not sufficient to study only the thermal contrasts at the surface of the investigated objects. The experimental results suggest that the overall thermal behaviour has to be considered.
Starches and its derivatives are known to exhibit viscosity modifying characteristics. In an ongoing work, the influence of com and cassava starches on some properties of concrete such as compressive strength, heat of hydration and creep are examined. Various percentages (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 %) of starches by weight of cement were added to concrete mixes prepared in the laboratory. Preliminary results of compressive strengths showed that both starches have some positive impact (e.g. there was 5.3 % increase in strength due to a 1 % addition of com starch by weight of cement in comparison to the control while cassava starch of the same percentage gave 4.9 % increase in strength) at certain percentages of starch addition to concrete at 28 days. The creep and hydration results shows the starch additions compares well and in some instance performs better.
Portland cement, as we know it today, has its origin in Great Britain approximately 170 years ago. Since then, concrete technology has spread out to Europe, the United States, and Japan, where it became a key component for rapid industrial development. Europe, the Unites States and many Asian countries today have developed a high level of technology regarding concrete construction.
However, each of them has a unique history and as a result, different “concrete philosophy” depending upon the social, environmental and financial boundary conditions, as well as their evolution throughout the years and local construction traditions. As a result, the word concrete may refer to rather different materials in America, Europe, and Asia.
Apart from South Africa, most sub-Saharan African countries cannot look back on a similarly long cement and concrete history. Cement and concrete are rather new materials and not yet well established. This gives African engineers the unique opportunity to learn from past mistakes and to develop a concrete technology, which refers to the best available practice. However, in many sub-Saharan African countries, standards and regulations are adopted (preferably from Europe or the US) without consideration of the historical background of these standards. Although this practice helps saving resources for the implementation, it does not necessarily yield the best result in the African environment, and also from an economic point of view it might come back disadvantageously due to unnecessary overdesigning.
By comparing the differing states-of-the-art in North America, Europe, and Asia, this paper emphasizes, how regional conditions determine the practice of concrete technology in the sub-Saharan area. It is therefore important for Africa to develop a unique African concrete technology, which is perfectly fitted to the specific local conditions, even if it may vary distinctively from the established practice elsewhere. The paper concludes that African nations should effort into adapting existing principles that have proved to function well rather than adopting existing standards.