Detection of Top-Bar Effect in Reinforced Concrete Using Guided Ultrasonic Waves
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 4
Abstract
An ultrasonic shear wave-based nondestructive method is proposed in this paper to detect steel–concrete interface debonding owing to the top-bar effect. A concrete wall was cast with horizontal reinforcements at different heights in order to create interfacial defects underneath the top bars. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) patches were surface mounted at the ends of the bars to excite and record shear waves. The ultrasonic results showed that the amplitude of the signals increased with the height of the bars. The specimens were cut open after the experiments and the top-bar effect was clearly discerned. Its increase with the height of the bar was clearly observed. An increasing difference between the high-frequency component (HFC) and the excitation frequency of the signal was observed between the bottom bar with a good bond and the top bars. This feature can be utilized for nondestructively monitoring the top-bar effect.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
This project is supported by the Australian Research Council through Discovery Project grant DP160104731.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 4 • April 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 24, 2019
Accepted: Oct 15, 2020
Published online: Jan 30, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 30, 2021
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