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.
Non-destructive testing (NDT) of concrete structures is performed using pulse-echo methods. According to the type of the applied waves it can be classified as acoustic (Impact-Echo, Ultrasonics) and electromagnetic methods (Radar). The results are visualised through different imaging processes. This work is performed in the frame of a research project promoted by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR384).The objective of data fusion is to use the complementary information of the different methods. Radar can detect metallic reflectors in concrete (metallic ducts and concrete reinforcement) very well. This method is not able to locate defects behind these reflectors (injecting defects, defects behind close concrete reinforcement), because the electromagnetic waves are completely reflected at metals. The acoustic methods are able to compensate this deficit i.e. acoustic waves can penetrate through metal. But acoustic waves in the ultrasonic range are completely reflected by air layers. Air layers have smaller influence on radar propagation, so that both methods complement each other.In order to be able to combine the NDT-data from several methods records at the same volume, the different data setsmodes of signals must be adapted. The ultrasonic and radar data have to be reconstructed with programs based on the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) before data fusion. Subsequently, a conversion of the data into a uniform format has to be carried out. This is a prerequisite in order to keep the data exchange between the project partners as simple as possible. After the data sets are imported and transferred into a common reference system, they can be processed with operations according to the purpose of the investigation. Results, which have been achieved in concrete test specimen with radar and ultrasonics, will be presented and will show the feasibility of the data fusion method.
Non-destructive testing (NDT) of concrete structures is performed using pulse-echo methods. According to the type of the applied waves it can be classified as acoustic (Impact-Echo, Ultrasonics) and electromagnetic methods (Radar). The results are visualised through different imaging processes. This work is performed in the frame of a research project promoted by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR384). The objective of data fusion is to use the complementary information of the different methods. Radar can detect metallic reflectors in concrete (metallic ducts and concrete reinforcement) very well. This method is not able to locate defects behind these reflectors (injecting defects, defects behind close concrete reinforcement), because the electromagnetic waves are completely reflected at metals. The acoustic methods are able to compensate this deficit i.e. Acoustic waves can penetrate through metal. But acoustic waves in the ultrasonic range are completely reflected by air layers. Air layers have smaller influence on radar propagation, so that both methods complement each other. In order to be able to combine the NDT-data from several methods records at the same volume, the different data setsmodes of signals must be adapted. The ultrasonic and radar data have to be reconstructed with programs based on the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) before data fusion. Subsequently, a conversion of the data into a uniform format has to be carried out. This is a prerequisite in order to keep the data exchange between the project partners as simple as possible. After the data sets are imported and transferred into a common reference system, they can be processed with operations according to the purpose of the investigation. Results, which have been achieved in concrete test specimen with radar and ultrasonics, will be presented and will show the feasibility of the data fusion method.
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.