8.2 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfmethoden für das Bauwesen
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Ultrasonic echo testing is a well-established non-destructive testing technique used to investigate the interior of concrete structures in civil engineering. For the reconstruction of internal features, methods similar to seismic imaging are applied. To improve the ultrasonic imaging capabilities, we investigate the potential of a newly available 3D matrix mode measurement device in combination with advanced imaging techniques.
Commonly used ultrasonic array measurement devices rely on several ultrasonic transducers coupled to act as one transducer that transmits or receives transversal ultrasound waves. Although this approach is well suited to detect elongated structures such as pipes and rebars, it has limitations if 3D embedded objects are present. Hence, the ultrasonic device MiraA1040Pro used here is designed to measure the ultrasonic wavefield on a 4 by 16 matrix of individual transducers. For testing, we used laboratory specimens with linear and spheric embedded structures first. Both linear and matrix mode measurements were conducted and analysed using the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique
(SAFT) which is similar to Kirchhoff migration. Second, we used a data set from Teutschenthal mine at a shotcrete specimen constructed to simulate engineered barriers tailored for nuclear waste repositories. Ultrasonic measurements were investigated as a tool for quality assurance of these structures. The specimen contains both artificial 3D artifacts as well as naturally occurring defects such as a delamination. To make use of the advanced data acquisition, focusing 3D imaging techniques are applied to further improve the imaging quality.
Generally, the reconstructed images from the 3D matrix mode data have a lower level of Signal-to-Noise-Ratio than the 2D linear mode because the source signal is weaker compared to the linear mode. Moreover, complex wave conversions of the SH-transversal wave occur that are reduced in the 2D linear scenario. However, clearer images can be achieved at non-linear features, particularly with focusing imaging methods. Thus, combining 3D data acquisition techniques with advanced imaging methods improves the success in imaging complex concrete structures. This is of particular interest for thick concrete structures in nuclear barrier systems or foundations. Additionally, we demonstrate opportunities to use well-constrained test laboratory scenarios from non-destructive testing as a practical test case for geophysical methods.
Until the 1980s radiography was used to inspect civil structures in case of special demands and showed a much better resolution than other NDT techniques. However, due to safety concerns and cost issues, this method is almost never used anymore. Meanwhile, non-destructive techniques such as ultrasound or
radar have found regular, successful practical application but sometimes suffer from limited resolution and accuracy, imaging artefacts or restrictions in detecting certain features when applied to reinforced or prestressed concrete inspection.
Muon tomography has received much attention recently. Muons are particles generated naturally by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere and pose no risk to humans. Novel detectors and tomographic imaging algorithms have opened new fields of application, mainly in the nuclear sector, but also in spectacular cases such as the Egyptian pyramids.
As a first step towards practical application in civil engineering and as a proof of concept we used an existing system to image the interior of a reference reinforced 600 kg concrete block. Even with a yet not optimized setup for this kind of investigation, the muon imaging results have been at least of similar quality compared to ultrasonic and radar imaging, potentially even better. Recently, the research was expanded to more realistic testing problems such as the detection of voids in certain structural elements. However, before practical implementation, more robust, mobile, and affordable detectors would be required as well as user-Friendly imaging and simulation software.
The built infrastructure ages and requires regular inspection and, when in doubt, monitoring. To ensure that older concrete bridges showing signs of deterioration can be used safely, several innovative monitoring tools have been introduced, including but not limited to optical, fiber-optic, or acoustic emission techniques. However, there are gaps in the portfolio. A sensing technique that covers a wide range of damage scenarios and larger volumes, while still being sensitive and specific, would be beneficial.
For about 15 years, research has been conducted on ultrasonic monitoring of concrete structures that goes beyond the traditional ultrasonic pulse velocity test (PV test), mostly using a very sensitive data evaluation technique called coda wave interferometry. At BAM we have developed sensors and instrumentation specifically for this method.
We have instrumented a 70-year-old, severely damaged prestressed concrete bridge in Germany in addition to a commercial monitoring system. We have now collected data for almost 3 years. We can show that we can provide information about the stress distribution in the bridge. We have also been able to confirm that there has been no significant additional damage to the bridge since the installation.
X-rays without X-rays: Can muon tomography provide pictures from within concrete and other objects?
(2024)
Until the 1980s radiography was used to inspect civil structures in case of special demands and showed a much better resolution than other NDT techniques. However, due to safety concerns and cost issues, this method is almost never used anymore. Meanwhile, non-destructive techniques such as ultrasound or
radar have found regular, successful practical application but sometimes suffer from limited resolution and accuracy, imaging artefacts or restrictions in detecting certain features when applied to reinforced or prestressed concrete inspection.
Muon tomography has received much attention recently. Muons are particles generated naturally by cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere and pose no risk to humans. Novel detectors and tomographic imaging algorithms have opened new fields of application, mainly in the nuclear sector, but also in spectacular cases such as the Egyptian pyramids.
As a first step towards practical application in civil engineering and as a proof of concept we used an existing system to image the interior of a reference reinforced 600 kg concrete block. Even with a yet not optimized setup for this kind of investigation, the muon imaging results have been at least of similar quality compared to ultrasonic and radar imaging, potentially even better. Recently, the research was expanded to more realistic testing problems such as the detection of voids in certain structural elements. However, before practical implementation, more robust, mobile, and affordable detectors would be required as well as user-Friendly imaging and simulation software.
The talk also discusses other applications , such as volcanology, mining and geothermal exploration.
A safety or security related assessment of explosions, accidental and intentional scenarios alike, often necessitate performance of replication-tests. Such test results are necessary to clarify the causes within the scope of forensic investigations. To gain important insights into the behavior of structures and materials under such loading, field tests may also be performed in accordance with different test standards. To determine the resistance of building-structures after explosions, estimation of the residual load-bearing capacity in addition to the assessment of dynamic structural response and damage to the building components is important. In most cases an evaluation of structural integrity is based only on the visual damage, resulting in an overestimation of the residual capacity.
The Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) operates the Test site for Technical Safety (TTS) on an area measuring about 12 km2 in the Federal State of Brandenburg for execution of true-to-scale explosion tests. At the TTS, building component testing was performed to assess the suitability of different non-destructive testing methods to characterize the dynamic structural response and damage resulting from the detonation of high explosives.
Different blast-loading scenarios were realized by varying the net explosive mass and the standoff distance with all scenarios representing a near-field detonation. The test object was a reinforced concrete wall 2 m high, 2.5 m wide and 20 cm thick, fixed at both vertical edges. The dynamic loading of the wall was characterized with 8 piezoelectric pressure sensors flush-mounted on the front surface, thus measuring the reflected pressures from the shock wave. The tests were conducted with the aim of characterizing the global behavior of the wall under dynamic shock loading and the resulting local damage pattern, respectively. High speed digital image correlation was implemented in combination with multiple acceleration sensors to observe the rear surface of the wall to chart the dynamic deflection during the loading and to determine the residual deformation after the loading had ceased. In addition, one test specimen was instrumented with fiber optic sensor cables, both fixed to the rebars and embedded in the concrete-matrix, respectively. Firstly, these sensors were interrogated during the blast test by a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) device using a particularly high sampling rate to measure the shock-induced vibrations in the structure with high temporal resolution. This delivers information on dynamics of compression and tension cycles from within the structure. Secondly, the local damage-pattern emerging during the series of blasts was determined via distributed fiber optic strain sensing (DSS) by interrogating the embedded fiber optic sensors with a high spatial resolution DSS device after each blast. This enabled the characterization of non-visual damage to the structure, in particular with regard to the formation of localized cracks in the concrete matrix. The DSS was further complimented by a structure-scanner based on ultrasonic measurements.
Our contribution describes this new test approach in detail. Results of the three datasets, namely dynamic shock loading, global behavior of the test object and the local damage pattern will be presented. The suitability of the implemented measurement methods will be discussed in combination with the challenges in their application for technical safety evaluation of building components under explosive loading.
BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) is developing an electronic measurement system to be placed inside a waste drum, which will be filled with concrete. The goal of this measurement system is to monitor the process of hardening and the evolution of the concrete itself over time to indirectly identify potential defects such as corrosion or cracking. The measured parameters are humidity, temperature, and pressure. In this regard, particular attention was given to the design of the electronic board’s enclosure, to allow the sensors to measure the state of the concrete without being in direct contact with it. In the scope of the European Commission’s project of PREDIS, the supply of power to the battery-less sensors and the data acquired by such sensors are transmitted through the metallic waste drum by an innovative wireless technology developed by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland) in order to ensure long-term operation while keeping the integrity of the sealed container.
BAM is developing an electronic measurement system to be placed inside a waste drum, which will be filled with concrete. The goal of this measurement system is to monitor the process of hardening and the evolution of the concrete itself over time to indirectly identify potential defects such as corrosion or cracking. The measured parameters are humidity, temperature, and pressure. In this regard, particular attention was given to the design of the electronic board’s enclosure, to allow the sensors to measure the state of the concrete without being in direct contact with it. In the scope of the EU project PREDIS, the data acquired by such sensors are transmitted from inside to outside the metallic waste drum through wireless technology.
The sensing system is made of a chain of small sensing units, called SensorNodes. Each SensorNode includes two off-the-shelf sensors, one for relative humidity and temperature and one for pressure and temperature. A SensorNode is designed to have a unique identifier, in order to be connected to other units while being uniquely discoverable by a standard communication protocol. In this way, a distributed matrix of measurement points is created.
One of the most challenging tasks in designing a measurement system to run in a harsh environment (such as hardening concrete) is to let the sensors sense the external environment without damaging the sensor itself.
To keep the external environment away from the electronic board while still letting the sensors measure the concrete behavior, holes have been drilled through the lid and covered from the inside with a layer of a porous membrane. The membrane's pores allow water and gas particles to pass through and let the enclosed air equilibrate with the external environment.
With the help of the developed sensors, monitoring concrete in cemented waste drums will be possible. The derived data will also serve as the basis for ongoing modeling approaches for digital twins within the Predis project. Overall, the sensors provide a means of enabling safe nuclear waste management through advanced monitoring
When reassessing existing concrete bridges, the challenge is often to obtain missing or incomplete information on the internal structure. In particular, the number and position of the existing reinforcement as well as the geometric dimensions of the components are of interest. Non-destructive testing methods, like radar or ultrasound, which work on the basis of the pulse-echo method, have been established for this purpose, as they only require access to the component from one side. The measurement data recorded on the structure require pre-processing to be able to reproduce the internal structure geometrically accurately. Besides different steps of data processing, the geometrical reconstruction of the measured data based on the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) is state of the art today. In this paper, the technical possibilities of the ultrasonic echo method are presented based on measurements in the laboratory and on a real bridge structure. The precision of the reconstruction and its limitations are shown. In addition to the state of the art SAFT technique, open questions and the latest research approaches, such as imaging by reverse time migration (RTM) including initial results are discussed.