Introduction

Ultrasonic Testing of Concrete is a multi-phase material

Speed of sound in concrete depends on
Concrete the relative concentration of its constituent
materials;
degree of compacting,
Mohamad Pauzi Ismail
moisture content, and
the amount of discontinuities present
Sound attenuated by coarse granular
structure (much acoustic scattering
occurs)

Introduction Measurement Method

testing is usually performed at kilohertz Transit time
frequencies by the pulse through-transmission. Attenuation
Pulse-echo technique is under development
Sound velocity in 3D is given by,

E (1)
Vp =
(1+)(1)

Application Strength of Concrete

measurements of composition (e.g. monitor defined as the minimum compressive strength
the mixing materials during construction , to required producing crushing in a given sample
estimate the depth of damage caused by fire ), BS requires a standard test to be made on a
150mm cube sample, usually 28 days old for
strength, OPC or 7 days old for RHPC
homogeneity, Strength of a structure can be measured by
elastic modulus and age means of a core test, for which a sample is
check presence of defects drilled out from a region where the resultant
cavity does not adversely affect the stress
thickness measurement. distribution in the structure.
Strength of Concrete (continued) Strength estimation
This procedure is UT can be carried out after a period of
expensive to carry out,
cannot be regarded as a non-destructive test.
only from 6 to 9 hours after concrete
In any case, it is not practicable to perform it until has been placed in position
the concrete is at least one week old, and the
method is thus unsuitable for monitoring changes Group velocity (m/s) Strength
in strength in the early stages of setting
Another method of measuring strength is Above 4500 Excellent
surface hardness test, however 3600 - 4500 Generally good
it cannot be used for newly placed concrete 3000 - 3600 Questionable
no use for concrete more than about three 2100 - 3000 Generally poor
months old because of structural changes in the below 2100 Very poor
region of the surface.

The Effects of Age The Effect of the Mix Ratio

If A and B, respectively, are the volume
fractions of coarse and fine aggregates in
a sample of concrete and VA, VB, and VP
are the respective speed of sound in
coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, and
cement paste
l A B [l ( A + B)]
= + +
V VA VB VP

Effect of Steel Bar Reinforcement

Sound speed increase as they travelled in
steel
2aVs
V =
[4a 2 + (Vs t l ) 2 ]1/ 2

Bar effect is reduced for large

a/l > [(Vs - V)/(Vs + V)]1/2
Ultrasonic Measurements in
Concrete Testing methods
Frequency used: 25 and 250 kHz, i.e. Resonance for determine Young
wavelengths range from 200 mm to 10 Modulus
mm Through Transmission pulse method
Possible to test samples thickness of up Pulse echo method
to 13 m at low frequency
Measurements usually involve
determination of the speed of sound
Because of scattering, it is difficult to
relate attenuation to any of inherent
properties of a concrete sample

Testing Technique for Pulse

Transmission Directional characteristic of probe
Direct technique dB 0 10 20
30
Diagonal (semi-direct) -10
40
50
Surface 60
-20
70

-30
80

(a) (b) 90
-40

(c)

Flaw Detection in Concrete

Flaw Detection in Concrete (continued)
presence of internal defects in a sample A concrete surface exposed to weather,
of concrete gives rise to a decrease in after action of frost, or to fire suffers
amplitude of the received signal deterioration in its quality
Surface cracks are comparatively easy to depth of the deterioration
evaluate using BS V V '
d = 0.5 xo
V +V '
(a22t12 a12t 22 )
d =
(t 22 t12 )
Thickness Measurement
Asphalt layer
(a)

900
y = 1.1332x + 246.02
Probe separation (mm)
800
(b)
700
600
500 y = 0.2844x + 403.47
(c) 400
300 y = 2.1265x + 77.998
200
y = 1.3949x + 21.848
100
(d) 0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Transit Time (us)

(e)