Imaging Concrete Structures Using Air-Coupled Impact-Echo
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 133, Issue 6
Abstract
In this paper, air-coupled impact-echo is successfully applied for nondestructive evaluation of concrete. The air-coupled sensor is a small ( diameter) measurement microphone located several centimeters above the top surface of the concrete being evaluated. Unwanted ambient acoustic noise is attenuated by a specially designed sound insulation enclosure. Test results show that air-coupled sensors are effective for impact-echo when appropriate impactors are used. Impact-echo data obtained by air-coupled sensors are equivalent to those obtained by conventional contact sensors. Test results from concrete slabs containing artificial delaminations and voids are reported, where an air-coupled impact-echo scan is conducted over the entire slab area. Defects are located in the generated two-dimensional contour image. The areal size of defects are accurately determined when the measurement point spacing in the scan is smaller than half of the expected defect size. Test results from air-coupled impact-echo scans carried out over internal metal and plastic ducts within another concrete slab are also reported. The goal of the experiment is to investigate the grouting condition inside the ducts. Impact-echo line scan images differentiate poorly grouted sections from the well-grouted sections within the metal duct.
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Acknowledgments
This work was carried out in the course of research sponsored by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. NSFCMS-0223819. The writers also are grateful for additional support from James Instruments Inc.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 133 • Issue 6 • June 2007
Pages: 628 - 640
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: May 2, 2006
Accepted: Oct 9, 2006
Published online: Jun 1, 2007
Published in print: Jun 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Henri P. Gavin
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