Free-Space Nondestructive Characterization of Young Mortar Samples
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 8
Abstract
The results of early age reflection and transmission properties of young mortar samples with different water-to-cement ratios changing between 0.40 and 0.60 with a 0.05 of increment are presented. Hourly nondestructive and noncontact measurements are conducted during 20–30 and at band by free-space method. Two measurement systems are used for comparison and validation of measurements. One is a simple and relatively inexpensive (direct current volt meter and T-meter combination) and the other is expensive and complex in operation (Agilent Technologies power meter). A new approach (relative slope approach for reflection properties) is introduced to predict the history of the hydration process of young mortar samples. It is shown that the difference between the relative slopes of reflection properties of mortar samples with 0.40 and 0.45 ratios is greater than that of other mortar samples whose ratio difference is 0.05. This result shows that a mortar with a lower ratio will gain hydration (and strength) quicker than the one with a higher ratio (a nonlinear relationship between the degree of hydration and ratios at early ages of curing). It is shown that a lower amplitude of transmission coefficient corresponds to the young mortar sample with a higher ratio at early ages of curing. This is the opposite case for hardened cement samples. Therefore, early age transmission properties can be used to monitor the porosity level inside cement samples and this monitoring can be very useful for the quality enhancement of these samples. It is observed that the measurement results of both systems are almost the same (maximum 4% difference), and simple and relatively inexpensive system can be adapted for the detection of hydration, evaporation process, and porosity level detection inside cement samples at construction site.
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Acknowledgments
The writer would like to thank TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey—Münir Birsel National Doctorate Scholarship) and YOK (The Higher Education Council of Turkey) for supporting his studies. Also, he would like to thank Dr. Sergey N. Kharkovsky at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in University of Missouri-Rolla, for his encouragement on initiating this study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 8 • August 2007
Pages: 674 - 682
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 31, 2005
Accepted: Aug 17, 2006
Published online: Aug 1, 2007
Published in print: Aug 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: John S. Popovics
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