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- Concrete (10)
- Monitoring (8)
- Ultrasound (7)
- NDT (5)
- Coda wave interferometry (3)
- Pile integrity testing (3)
- Air-coupled ultrasound (2)
- Deconvolution (2)
- Defect detection (2)
- Engineered Barrier System (EBS) (2)
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Eingeladener Vortrag
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In this study, an Impulse Response Function analysis of pile response to sine-sweep excitation by a low cost, portable Shaker was used to identify defects in piles. In straightforward impact-echo methods, echoes from the pile toe and defects are visible in the time domain measurements. However, these echoes are not present in the time domain records of piles subjected to sine-sweep excitations, due to interactions between the input and output signals. For this reason, the impulse response function in the time domain has been calculated and is able to identify the echoes from pile impedance changes. The proposed methodology has been evaluated both numerically and experimentally. A one-dimensional pile-soil interaction system was developed, and a finite difference method used to calculate the pile response to sine-sweep excitation. The numerical simulations indicate that impulse response measurements with a synthesized logarithmic, sine-sweep excitation could be an effective tool for detecting defects in piles. The methodology was further tested with field trials on 6 cast in situ concrete test piles including 1 intact pile and 5 defective piles subjected to sine-sweep excitations by a shaker. In 5 of the 6 cases the echoes from the pile toe could be identified in the deconvoluted waveforms—the impulse Response functions. Damage detection is more difficult and dependent on the selection of the optimal regularization parameter. Further research and optimization of the deconvolution process is needed to evaluate the effectiveness compared to standard pile integrity testing methods.
The necessity and demand for nondestructive testing of wood-based materials which can automatically scan huge areas of wood is increasing. Air-coupled ultrasound (ACU) is used to detect defects and damage without altering the structure permanently. Using through transmission it is possible to detect even small holes and missing adhesive. If only one side of an object is accessible the reflection mode is preferred at the expense of a reduced resolution and penetration depth. Novel ferroelectret transducers with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enable a high-precision structure recognition. The transducers made of cellular polypropylene (PP) are quite suitable for ACU testing due to their extremely low Young’s modulus and low density which result in a favorable acoustic impedance for the transmission of ultrasonic waves between the transducer and air. Thus, defects such as delamination, rot, and cracks can be detected. Promising results were obtained under laboratory conditions with frequencies from 90 kHz to 200 kHz. The advantage of these ACU transducers is that they do not require contact to the sample, are accurate, and cost effective. Ultrasonic quality assurance for Wood is an important attempt to increase the acceptance of wooden structures and towards sustainability in civil engineering in general.
The detection of delamination, rot and cracks causing a decrease of strength in wooden construction elements is a key task for nondestructive testing (NDT). Air-coupled ultrasound (ACU) is used to detect flaws without having to provide contact to the surface or otherwise affect the object. Novel ferroelectric transducers with a high signal-to-noise ratio enable an accurate flaw detection. Transducers made of cellular polypropylene (PP) are suitable for characterizing wood-based materials (WBM) because their extremely low Young’s modulus and low density mean a favorable acoustic impedance for the transmission of ultrasonic waves between the transducer and air. The transducers can be applied during the production of WBM and during its service life. The device enables a fast in-situ recognition of defects with frequencies between 90 kHz and 250 kHz. Measurements can be performed in through transmission for a high resolution or in pulse-echo technique in case of one-sided access at the expense of reduced signal strength. Ultrasonic quality assurance for wood is an important attempt to increase the acceptance of wooden structures and towards sustainability in civil engineering in general.
In earthquake-prone regions such as the Pacific Northwest, damage assessment tools are needed to enable safety evaluations to support recovery. Currently, damage assessment is performed primarily by visual inspection and is often impossible for structural members that are inaccessible, such as deep foundations or interior members hidden by cladding. This study explores the possibility of using embedded ultrasonic transducers to monitor reinforced concrete members for damage progression under earthquake loading. A novel methodology is proposed where changes in the member condition due to an increase in the earthquake-type loading of a full-scale column-foundation specimen are correlated with changes in the recorded ultrasonic waveforms. The discussed preliminary analysis of the ultrasonic signals is based on wave propagation velocity, changes in the coda wave portion, and maximum amplitude of the signals. Three embedded transducers were used to continuously monitor the laboratory specimen during destructive testing. This paper provides an overview of the proposed methodology, outlines the laboratory experiment, and discusses some preliminary observations.
The LAUS: First Applications of a New System for Ultrasonic Imaging of Very Concrete Structures
(2019)
The LAUS (Large Aperture Ultrasonic System) has been developed to image very thick concrete structures, which are not accessible for commercial systems. The device and the corresponding software is the result of joint Research of BAM, an ultrasonic instrument manufacturer and University of Kassel, Germany. It consists of 12 separate Arrays of 32 point-contact shear wave transducers each, which can be deployed in flexible configurations. Each array is combined with battery and transmitter, receiver and wireless communication electronics.
Three case histories are presented. First the system was deployed on a 5-m thick heavily reinforced foundation slab.
The reflection of the slab’s bottom was imaged clearly. In addition, a multiple reflection was registered, thus giving hope that even thicker elements might be imaged by the instrument. Second, the LAUS was used to investigate a massive bridge girder where a heavy rainstorm during concreting had led to imperfections that were visible after removing the formwork was removed. The LAUS could image tendon ducts in 1.8m depth and the backwall closely behind them. Some limited areas showed blurred reflections and were checked by drill holes; these areas were affected by diffuse damage which could be repaired by injections. Third, a large retaining wall was checked for thickness.
Meanwhile, the LAUS has been used in underground waste deposits (nuclear and other) for quality assurance of sealing plugs. A confirmed penetration depth of about 7 m has been reached.
The reuse of existing foundations is considered in various construction Projects to save time and costs while avoiding unnecessary interference with other underground objects. Because the design and as-built drawings might not be complete and questions may arise regarding the condition of the foundations, a detailed investigation is a prerequisite for the planning process in most cases. Nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques are a core part of this endeavor.
The processes and procedure for foundation reuse planning are not yet standardized, and the possibilities and limitations of NDT methods are not known to many planners and stakeholders. The German research Project REFUND (2014–2016) has developed charts for the planning and Investigation process that consider available standards and the current state of the art in NDT.
These charts are separately available for single and strip, slab, and pile foundations. Available NDT methods have been compiled and evaluated for specific tasks at these foundation types, including their respective limitations.
The procedures have been successfully tested in two real-world projects. The results from these projects enable planners to improve the reliability of the process while potentially saving significant resources. This paper discusses the procedures for pile foundations and demonstrates the use of various NDT methods in a project on the reuse of electrical tower foundations.
Ultrasonic methods are used in concrete investigations since decades. While being limited to transmission testing in the laboratory for a while, in-situ echo measurements for structural investigations and condition assessment have made their way into practical application in the past 20 years. However, several challenges remain. On one side, there are technical issues as limitations in depth of penetration, resolution and imaging capabilities. On the other side there are still gaps in validation, standardization and certification, which are limiting the applicability in condition/load capacity assessment.
This review reports a couple of developments which will help to overcome these issues. This includes technical developments as new devices which are easier to handle on site or giving a much deeper penetration depth (e.g. the LAUS device at BAM) as well as improvements in imaging by hardware update (e. g. air coupled ultrasound or coded signals) or new software (e. g. RTM imaging). To foster the application in real world projects we are as well working on standardization by developing new reference specimen with international partners which will ensure world-wide comparability of ultrasonic and other methods and quality assurance codes. Further, non-destructive methods are being used to update probabilistic models used for the reassessment of existing structures to support the structural engineer’s decisions.
The propagation of ultrasonic waves in concrete is affected by its micro- and macro-structure, geometry and properties as well as external influences as stress, temperature or moisture. In addition, age and degradation have a strong influence. Therefore, Ultrasound has been used to monitor concrete samples and structures since decades. However, early applications using conventional techniques as time-of flight or changes in amplitudes have been limited to detect changes in a late stage close to serviceability or ultimate load states.
Around 2000, several new, more sensitive techniques adopted from geophysics or other field of material sciences have been introduced to research in ultrasonic monitoring of concrete. The most discussed methodologies are coda wave interferometry, a technique which allows to detect very subtle changes from repeated ultrasonic measurements. Nonlinear acoustic techniques help to identify e. g. cracks even in an inhomogeneous background. Both techniques can be combined.
This paper reviews methods and results achieved so far on the laboratory scale and with full scale models the directions for future research and application is given as well.
The propagation of ultrasonic waves in concrete is affected by its micro- and macro-structure, geometry and properties as well as external influences as stress, temperature or moisture. In addition, age and degradation have a strong influence. Therefore, Ultrasound has been used to monitor concrete samples and structures since decades. However, early applications using conventional techniques as time-of flight or changes in amplitudes have been limited to detect changes in a late stage close to serviceability or ultimate load states.
Around 2000, several new, more sensitive techniques adopted from geophysics or other field of material sciences have been introduced to research in ultrasonic monitoring of concrete. The most discussed methodologies are coda wave interferometry, a technique which allows to detect very subtle changes from repeated ultrasonic measurements. Nonlinear acoustic techniques help to identify e. g. cracks even in an inhomogeneous background. Both techniques can be combined.
This paper reviews methods and results achieved so far on the laboratory scale and with full scale models the directions for future research and application is given as well.
PileInspect
(2019)
The EC funded project PileInspect (2013-2016) has tried to improve the traditional low strain pile integrity test by using a shaker instead of a hamm and sophisticated higher order spectra analysis methods to provide automated, reliable interpretation. However, the results, even if promising, have not seen full validation yet. A second module, providing depth information by regularized deconvolution, was developed and tested successfully, but doesn't deliver additional information compared tomteh traditioanl test.
Ultrasonic transmission measurements are used to monitor concrete elements mostly on a laboratory scale since decades. Recently, coda wave interferometry, a technique adapted from seismology, has been introduced to civil engineering experiments. It can be used to reveal subtle changes in concrete samples and even large construction elements without having a transducer directly at the location where the change is taking place. The methodology works best with embedded transducers to avoid coupling issues or excessive environmental influence. These transducers can be used for newly built and existing structures. Recently, large concrete beams have been equipped with a network of transducers and loaded until failure. Using code wave interferometry, it was possible to visualize stress fields and damaged areas. This paper gives an overview of the state of the art, recent results achieved at BAM and a task list for further results and development.
Seismic methods are increasingly used to improve ultrasonic imaging and monitoring of concrete. At BAM, we are research mainly the use of Reverse Time Migration to get better images from ultrasonic echo data of thick, complex concrete structures. Coda wave interferometry is used to detect subtle changes in concrete constructions, e. g. using embedded ultasonic transducers.
NDE of foundations
(2019)
This talk teaches the basic princioles and applications of NDT methods for deep foundations, sprecifically piles. A variety of testing methods are discussed (integrity testing, ultrasonic crosshole logging, parallel seismic and others). Capabilities and limitations are given as well as specific hints for practical use.
The closure of underground nuclear waste disposal facilities requires reliable gas- and watertight engineered barriers. In Germany, barriers made from salt concrete have been evaluated in full scale. While the barriers seem to fulfill the requirements regarding permeability, some unexpected cracks have been detected at the surface and at depth. In cooperation between the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), several experiments have been carried out to evaluate the applicability for ultrasonic measurements in crack detection and general quality assurance. Both commercial instruments and specially developed devices have been tested on site. Using commercial ultrasonic echo devices designed for concrete inspection it was possible to detect cracks and object in salt concrete up to a depth of 2 m. The check for delamination in shotcrete is another field of application. A unique device available at BAM, the wide aperture, deep penetration instrument LAUS, was able to locate cracks and objects up to a depth of 8 m so far, which is thought to be a record for ultrasonic echo measurements in concrete. Adapted imaging procedures, partly adopted from geophysics, helped to reveal 3D structure at depth. In addition, we have developed ultrasonic probes to be deployed in boreholes, currently at up to 20 m depth. They can collect information on cracks and other features in a radius of about 1.5 m around the borehole in the current version and might be used in echo or transmission mode. Evaluation experiments have been performed at an experimental barrier at the ERAM site in Morsleben, Germany. The results showed several empty and injected cracks as well as built in instrumentation. The results have been verified using borehole endoscopy as well as core examination and will be used to set up a reliable quality assurance system for engineered barriers. All instruments are based on ultrasonic shear wave transducers with a frequency range between 25 kHz and 100 kHz. Current research focuses on the improvement of the hardware (e. g. optimization of array characteristics) and imaging techniques as Reverse Time Migration, both aiming at the improvement of depth of penetration, resolution and probability of detection.
Ultrasonic transmission measurements are used to monitor concrete elements mostly on a laboratory scale since decades. Recently, coda wave interferometry, a technique adapted from seismology, has been introduced to civil engineering experiments. It can be used to reveal subtle changes in concrete samples and even large construction elements without having a transducer directly at the location where the change is taking place. The methodology works best with embedded transducers to avoid coupling issues or excessive environmental influence. These transducers can be used for newly built and existing structures. Recently, large concrete beams have been equipped with a network of transducers and loaded until failure. Using code wave interferometry, it was possible to visualize stress fields and damaged areas. This paper gives an overview of the state of the art, recent results achieved at BAM and a task list for further results and development.
Concrete piles are used as a foundation when the load capacity of the soil is insufficient or when the sustainable soil is found at a higher depth. Among other impact factors, the load capacity depends on the pile’s integrity and length.
Therefore, verifying these parameters using adequate methods is recommended. The most common procedure is the low-strain integrity test using the hammer impact method. Developed and established in the 1970s, this method uses stress waves induced by a hammer impact at the pile head and its reflections at impedance changes (length, defects, geometry changes) to estimate the length and defect locations. Although this method is widely used due to its low cost and fast conduction in situ, one disadvantage is its inability to classify the exact type of defect, i.e., crack, change in diameter, or concrete quality. Furthermore, very long and slender piles are difficult to test and small defects cannot be detected. In addition, it is necessary for the test engineer to hold a high level of experience and expertise in this field. The European Union–funded PileInspect project (2013–2016) aimed to compensate for these disadvantages by using a low-cost shaker as the excitation source and sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms for damage detection (higher-order spectra method). Because this technology lacks the capacity to localize damages and verify the pile length, an additional impulse response (IR) measurement technique was developed using vibrational excitation and regularized deconvolution to extract the depth information from the data in a similar manner as the hammer method.
Simulations and subsequent experiments conducted at a test facility on 90-cm-diameter bored piles 11 m in length and containing cracks at approximately 4 m below the pile head confirmed the capacity to determine the pile length.
Damage diagnosis and localization, however, are more difficult than for the hammer method. Although the damaged piles could be distinguished from the intact piles, in a blind test, this method might lead to misinterpretations caused by perturbations arising from the deconvolution process. The results also indicated that the low-cost shaker used for these measurements might be inappropriate for
the transferal of sufficient energy. Although the IR method cannot compensate for the disadvantages of the hammer method by itself, it may enable the possibility of using long and fully controllable and repeatable signals (chirp, synthetic impacts, even noise, etc.) for pile integrity testing in the future.
The assessment of Coda Wave Interferometry (CWI) and Distributed Fiber Optics Sensing (DFOS) techniques for the detection of damages in a laboratory size reinforced concrete beam is presented in this paper. The sensitivity of these two novel techniques to micro cracks is discussed and compared to standard traditional sensors. Moreover, the capacity of a DFOS technique to localize cracks and quantify crack openings is also assessed. The results show that the implementation of CWI and DFOS techniques allow the detection of early subtle changes in reinforced concrete structures until crack formation. With their ability to quantify the crack opening, following early detection and localization, DFOS techniques can achieve more effective monitoring of reinforced concrete structures. Contrary to discrete sensors, CWI and DFOS techniques cover larger areas and thus provide more efficient infrastructures asset management and maintenance operations throughout the lifetime of the structure.
The process of ensuring reliability of NDT applications contains various aspects, such as determining the performance and probability of success, the uncertainty in measurement, the provision of clear and functional procedures and ensuring the correct application accordingly. Test specimens have become powerful elements in supporting many of these aspects. Within the committee for NDT in Civil Engineering (NDT-CE) of the German Society for Nondestructive Testing (DGZfP), the subcommittee on Quality Assurance (UA-QS) therefore addresses the design and the integration of test specimens in the quality assurance process. Depending on the specific purpose, the requirements on test specimens can vary significantly based on the defined simulated scenario. The most prominent purposes of test specimens might be seen in providing references for inspection systems in regard to function control, calibration and validation. Further aspects can be parametric studies, basic investigation of physical principles related to NDT or a simplified and therefore comprehensive demonstration of inspection concepts (e.g. for teaching purposes). The specific purpose of a test specimen dictates the requirements regarding its conception, including the exact design, the material or the fabrication accuracy and the conditioning. In the development of a general guideline by the UA-QS for application-specific procedures and their validation, the use of test specimens is addressed and specific concepts for the design of test specimens are made. This includes the analysis of the measurement process regarding any given application, deriving an adequate calibration approach for it and designing test specimens (calibration specimens) accordingly. Furthermore, it includes the validation of the procedure taking into account all conditions related to the specific application in the field. The validation requires a statistically sufficient number of trials. Thorough evaluation of each trial can only be established if the ground-truth is known. Therefore, test specimens providing a realistic but controlled simulation of the inspection problem are valuable and indispensable elements in the validation process. The requirement of being fully realistic will often not be possible to fulfill due to practical restrictions. Any aspect that cannot be included in the simulation realistically needs to be simulated conservatively. This again, requires a sufficient understanding of the inspection principle and technique to ensure conservativeness. Among other quality-assurance-related aspects, the UA-QS establishes concepts and guidelines regarding sound and efficient approaches for the specific purposes of test specimens. This subcommittee brings together representatives of different Groups along the entire value chain of NDT-CE, including researchers, practitioners, manufacturers and clients. They all work together in establishing a common understanding and level of quality assurance in the industry.
The field of non-destructive testing of civil structures (NDT-CE) has been continuously growing. Due to the complexity and diversity of civil constructions as well as the heterogeneity of concrete, specific standards or guidelines for the application of modern NDT-CE are still missing. The development of individual solutions is the current approach, which is just as challenging as it is common for NDT-CE.
With the increasing development and commercialization of NDT-CE technology, the group of practitioners is growing. To ensure a good level of quality in the industry, it appears necessary to establish adequate means.
Naturally, the performance of NDT-CE methods regarding a specific application is strongly dependent on choosing the most suitable inspection technique and applying it correctly, generally referred to as the inspection procedure in the field of NDT. There are well-defined guidelines regarding procedure documentation and handling in many fields of NDT (e.g. nuclear, aerospace or automotive) according to the high importance of procedures in assuring a successful and reliable application. For a long time, this has not always been the case with NDT-CE, which is still considered a unique discipline of NDT. Part of the reason for that might be the young development state of NDTCE, the heterogeneity of building materials like concrete, timber or masonry as a material and the diversity of civil structures. In consequence, NDT-CE procedure development is considered challenging.
Among other aspects, addressed in the subcommittee on Quality Assurance (UA-QS) within the committee for NDT-CE of the German Society for Nondestructive Testing (DGZfP), part of its work aims at establishing an adequate basis for NDT-CE procedure development. While some of the highly developed approaches from other industries are taken into consideration, they need to be analyzed regarding their suitability for NDT-CE and adapted accordingly. For a procedure to be as defined as possible, it needs to contain sufficient information, such as the scope and limitations regarding material, geometry and condition of the test object, inspection parameters, calibration, data acquisition, analysis criteria as well as requirements regarding the inspection personnel.
For a successful implementation in the field, it is important to define the specific procedure as precisely as possible. Despite the necessity of a great amount of information to be included, the procedure needs to be suitable for efficient field application.
The UA-QS is developing a guideline for NDT-CE procedures suitable for application in this field of NDT to ensure correct and reproducible application. To demonstrate and evaluate this concept, specific examples of procedures are also produced. In particular, the UA-QS has developed a procedure for the detection and positioning of tendon ducts using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). This procedure is tested regarding the practical applicability in a roundrobin on a defined type of reference test block.
Construction methods, environmental stressors, and aging factors are the main causes for defects of reinforced concrete in nuclear power plants (NPP). These defects are typically occurred as corrosion of reinforcement steel, delamination, cracks, malfunction of post-tensioning or steel composite systems etc. Some of the challenges for assessing the performance of these structures by nondestructive testing methods (NDT) are that the assessment could be performed only during the annual overhauls when testing is time-limited and uncertainty of the accuracy and reliability of the available NDT testing devices combined with the lack of the international uniformity of the methods used for NDT tests. To overcome these challenges, a mock-up wall representing a section of the concrete containment of the NPP was built. The mock-up wall included simulated defects, which mimic the most common types of defects in NPP concrete structures such as dimensional errors, honeycombing, delamination, defects adjacent to the steel liner and voids in grouted tendon ducts for the post-tensioned structures. This paper introduces the design and construction of the wall including the concrete properties, reinforcement, tendon ducts and the types of the simulated defects. The paper also introduces the NDT methods and techniques that are suitable for assessing the condition of the mock-up wall under the real environmental conditions. These techniques include mechanical methods as rebound hammer, ultrasonic and electromagnetic methods. This mock-up wall will enable to investigate reliably available NDT methods and experts’ skills providing also an important and very much need educational platform for future NDE experts.
Fatigue is one of the most prevalent issues, which directly influences the service life expectancy of concrete structures. Fatigue has been investigated for years for steel structures. However, recent findings suggest that concrete structures may also be significantly subjected to fatigue phenomena that could lead to premature failure of certain structural elements. To date, fatigue of reinforced concrete has been given little focus. Knowledge on the influence factors and durability/capacity effects on this material should be improved. Current technological means to measure fatigue in civil structures like bridges and wind turbines (both onshore and offshore) are outdated, imprecise and inappropriate.
Meanwhile, this topic has got much more attention as time-variant loading on concrete structures plays an increasing role, e.g. in bridges with increasing traffic and heavier trucks, and for wind turbines for renewable energy production, e.g. for offshore wind turbine support structures affected by wind and waves.
The European Innovative Training Networks (ITN) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions project INFRASTAR (Innovation and Networking for Fatigue and Reliability Analysis of Structures - Training for Assessment of Risk) provides research training for 12 PhD students. The project aims to improve knowledge for optimizing the design of new structures as well as for more realistic verification of structural safety and more accurate prediction of the remaining fatigue lifetime of existing concrete structures.
First, the INFRASTAR research framework is detailed. Then it will be exemplified through the presentation of the major results of the four PhD students involved in the work package dealing with auscultation and monitoring. This includes the development and improvement of Fiber Optics (FO) and Coda Wave Interferometry (CWI) for crack sizing and imagery, new sensor technologies and integration, information management, monitoring strategy for fatigue damage investigation and lifetime prediction.