Field Testing of Reinforced Concrete

Structures
(with references to International Standards)

F.Papworth
Historical
Buildings

Industrial
Mines
 Expected Outcomes – Site Surveys
 Understand what sort of job Lets take a closer
you can do yourself with look at this …
minimal risk
 Understand what sort of
information can be obtained
 Understand when you should
get help
 Have a little background in the
common tests
 You may be able to use with
minimal training
 Testing companies may use on
site
Insitu Strength Buried Defects
Schmidt Rebound Impact Echo
Pundit Pulse Echo
Break off Thermography
Pull out Radar
Maturity Nuclear

Cover Quality
Corrosion Testing Sorptivity
Potentials Air Permeability
Resistivity Water Permeability
Polarisation Resistance
Embedment
Embedded Half Cell
Cable Tension
Carbonation Depth
Bolt Pull Out
Chloride Penetration
Cover

Visual Inspection Coatings

Magnifier Peel Tester
Gauge Pull off
Deformation Thickness
Monitor
Strain Surface
Camera Flatness/Levelness
Abrasion Resistance
Dusting
 Chloride Water Oxygen
O2 H2O
Fe2O3H2O
Secondary (Rust)
Reaction
Corrosion Reaction
2Fe(OH)2 H2O O2
4(OH)-
Anodic Current Cathodic
Reaction Reaction
Electrolyte
2Fe++ 4e-

4e- Electron Transfer

 Strength Assessment – Early Age
 Why Early Age Assessment
 Check before lifting/stripping Cylinder strengths
underestimate insitu strength
 Check before applying prestress
 Check to stop curing
 Water retaining code = 75% f’c 7 or 14 day specs overstate
requirements
 Bridges Code = 60% 60% f’c
 Schmidt Hammer Method
 Repetitive so establish conversion curve
 Accurate to 10-15%
 If 8MPa required lift safe to lift at 10MPa
 Surface strength only
 Maturity Measurement Method
 Doubles as temperature measurement
 Strength Assessment
Check Old Structures
 Check capacity for increased load
 Floor slabs when changing usage
 Buildings where heavy equipment to be located
 Bridges for increased capacity
 Check continued capacity of historic structures
 Where no design information available
 Check for progressive weakening
 Leaching of water retaining structures
Schmidt Rebound
 No conversion curves available
 Surface hardening due to carbonation
 ±25% with carbonation allowance, ±50% no carbonation allowance
 Strength Assessment
Rebound Hammer
Ultrasonics
Maturity
Pull off tests