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Factors affecting the relationship between ultrasonic pulse velocity and concrete compressive strength
Abstract
The use of non-destructive tests to determine concrete properties such as compressive strength , modulus of elasticity and existence of cracks or other deterioration symptoms is quite popular. The concept of using the velocity of ultrasonic pulses through concrete as an indication of us quality has been one of the more attractive methods. An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the effect of some factors that were thought to influence the behaviour of ultrasonic pulses in concrete. These factors include water-cement ratio, curing conditions, moisture content, and degree of compaction. The results indicate that some of these factors affect the relationship between concrete compressive strength and the velocity of the ultrasonic pulse through the concrete.
... Abdel-Jawed and Afaneh investigated various factors in concrete that affect the ultrasonic pulse. They mentioned that the compressive strength characteristics over time according to the water/binder (W/B) ratio can be analyzed using UPV [44]. Trtnik et al. investigated material and mix properties that affect the UPV of concrete and verified the relationship between UPV and the static/dynamic modulus of elasticity based on the results [39]. ...
This study investigated the hardening process of alkali-activated material (AAM) mortar using calcium sulfoalumiante (CSA) expansive additive (CSA EA), which accelerates the initial reactivity of AAMs, and subsequent changes in ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). After the AAM mortar was mixed with three different contents of CSA EA, the setting and modulus of elasticity of the mortar at one day of age, which represent curing steps, were measured. In addition, UPV was used to analyze each curing step. The initial and final setting times of the AAM mortar could be predicted by analyzing the UPV results measured for 14 h. In addition, the dynamic modulus of elasticity calculated using the UPV results for 24 h showed a tendency similar to that of the static modulus of elasticity. The test results showed that the use of CSA EA accelerated the setting of the AAM mortar and increased the modulus of elasticity, and these results could be inferred using UPV. The proposed measurement method can be effective in evaluating the properties of a material that accelerates the initial reactivity.
... Different studies have tried to model the relationship between the compressive strength and UPV, showing that a unique correlation cannot be defined given that the speed of the ultrasonic pulse depends as much on material-specific factors (such as type and physical characteristics of the aggregates, type of cement, percentage of addition, w/cm, type and curing conditions, moisture levels, and degrees of compaction) as on the way the technique is applied. 33,35,[37][38][39][40] Kou et al. 41 proposed an exponential relationship between concrete strength and UPV for concretes with SF, MK, FA, and GBFS; Shariq et al. 33 defined exponential relationships for concretes with 20, 40 and 60% GBFS; Madandoust and Yasin 37 used nonlinear multiple regression incorporating parameters such as curing age and w/cm in the equation. In this research, the relationship was assessed using simple linear (Y = aX + b) and exponential (Y = ae X ) regression analysis, wherein Y represents strength (MPa) and X the value of UPV (m/s), although in both cases the correlation coefficients (R 2 ) were over 0.85; the highest coefficients (above 0.89) were obtained by linear regression, as shown in Table 4. ...
In this paper, the mechanical properties of concrete with an added residue of the petrochemical industry (at levels of 10, 20, 30%), called catalytic cracking catalyst residue (FCC), are evaluated. The mechanical properties evaluated include compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Two reference materials, portland cement concrete without addition and added with 20% of metakaolin (MK), were used. These tests were performed up to 360 days of curing age. Based on the results obtained, correlations were established between the different properties evaluated. The best mechanical performance was obtained with 10% FCC as a cement replacement.
... The objective of the laboratory study was (1) to investigate the reproducibility of velocity estimates using the indirect transmission method, (2) to compare the regression and the unit-interval methods, (3) to determine the optimum transducer spacing (4) to verify the outcomes produced by the simulation study, and (5) to compare velocity measurements obtained by the direct and indirect transmission methods. ...
In the present research, the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and rebound hammer number (RHN) are employed to assess the age-dependent compressive strength of low calcium fly ash concrete. Simultaneously, the results are compared with the compressive strength obtained through compression tests. The concrete cylinders having dimensions of 100 × 200 mm were cast to carry out the present investigation. The experiments were performed on eight different concrete mixes with fly ash content varying from 0 to 60%. The age-dependent compressive strength, UPV, and RHN were carried out at different ages, varying from 7 to 180 days. The compressive strength of fly ash concrete mixes obtained using RHN is significantly lower than the experimental values, particularly for higher cement replacement with fly ash in concrete. However, the values of compressive strength obtained through UPV are relatively similar for different percentages of fly ash and at all ages. New models have been proposed to evaluate the age-dependent compressive strength of concrete containing varying percentages of fly ash by using UPV and RHN. The proposed models are adequate for the strength assessment of existing concrete structures containing any percentage of fly ash at any age. The integrity and quality of the structural concrete up to significant depth can be determined with the help of UPV, whereas RHN determines the surface hardness of the concrete. These models will benefit designers and practicing engineers in determining fly ash concrete’s strength without extracting the compressive strength of concrete through a compression test.
The rapid growth of concrete structures has led to high demand for cement production. However, the manufacturing of cement exhausts natural resources as well as emits an immense amount of CO2 into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and other climatic impacts. Fly ash has been used extensively or as an additive in the cement industry. High volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete has numerous benefits in both the fresh and hardened states. It improves the workability and paste flow behaviour of the fresh concrete as well as enhances the durability and ultimate strength of the hardened concrete. Owing to its good mechanical and structural behaviour in harsh environmental conditions, HVFA concrete could be safely incorporated in reinforced concrete beams, columns, slabs, etc. The present paper has attempted to review various properties of HVFA concrete with respect to the heat of hydration, setting time, workability, porosity, chemical and corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, structural behaviour, and creep and shrinkage characteristics of HVFA concrete. Furthermore, the literature review revealed that more experimental and analytical research is yet to be carried out to effectively evaluate the durability aspects and long-term properties, i.e. creep and shrinkage behaviour of structural or reinforced elements of HVFA concrete.
Researchers have studied the long term durability and quality of concrete structures for many years using several different techniques. One of the most widely used nondestructive techniques for assessing the quality of concrete at a certain age is the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) method. In 1940, the Portland Cement Association started a long term durability study to investigate the effect of variation in cement types on different durability aspects. The sonic vibration method, a precursor to UPV, was one of the methods implemented. The United States Bureau of Reclamation agreed to place 28 different cement types on the parapet wall panels of the Green Mountain Dam. Each of the 28 cement types was used in three or four of the 104 panels of the parapet wall. A complete description of the Green Mountain Dam construction process, aggregate types and cement types used in construction are found in Douglass and McHenry (1947). The Green Mountain Dam is located on the Blue River, a tributary of the Colorado River, 21 km (13 miles) southeast of Kremling, Colorado. The dam itself is an earthfill structure. This particular paper presents results of UPV testing of the parapet wall and analyzes some new trends and further validates some existing trends observed on the velocity of ultrasonic pulses travelling through concrete.
This paper presents the results of experimental investigations into the time-dependent ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) of concrete containing GGBFS. The UPV was determined at the age of 3, 7, 28, 56, 90, 150 and 180 days for twelve concrete mixes using the prism specimens of plain and GGBFS concrete. The amount of cement replaced by GGBFS was varied from 20% to 60%. The UPV of concrete containing GGBFS has been found to be lower than that of plain concrete for all percentage replacements of cement at all ages and for all the mixes. Relationship between cube and cylinder compressive strength and UPV for GGBFS based concrete has been presented. A new model for time-dependent dynamic modulus of elasticity of concrete containing GGBFS has been proposed.
Public works departments need test procedures for assessing the current condition of concrete in public facilities such as parking garages. Nondestructive testing can provide ultrasonic pulse velocities that can be used as an indicator of concrete quality. A procedure is presented that can be used to collect and analyze ultrasonic measurements. The procedure was applied for all of the public garages in Montgomery County, Md., to identify garages that needed immediate maintenance. Based on the measured data, the effect of the age of the concrete on the pulse velocity was investigated and a model was developed. The model can be used to determine where a garage is in its life cycle. The effect of elastomeric membranes, used to protect the concrete slabs on pulse velocities, was evaluated with the results indicating that the use of membranes extended the life of the concrete by about 10%, or an equivalent of 3 years of design life. A method of evaluating the effect of steel reinforcement on the pulse velocity was developed and applied. The method can be used to identify the optimum spacing between the transmitter and receiver in nondestructive testing.
The velocity and attenuation of ultrasonic pulses transmitted across concrete and paste specimens subjected to various mechanical loads were measured and compared with surface strains and internal microcracking. Pulse velocity decreased with increasing length of cracks. Increasing the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric crystals increased the pulse velocity and the sensitivity of the ultrasonic measurements to crack growth. For monotonically increasing loading of concrete specimens, it was observe%d that prior to failure pulse vel%ocity and mplitude started to continuously decrease and volume to dilate, indicating internal crack growth. It was inferred from ultrasonic measurements and substantiated by microscopic examination that the cyclic and sustained loading of concrete results in two stages of crack growth.
This paper presents a comparative study of five nondestructive apparatuses for testing hardened concrete in place. The apparatuses are the new pin penetration tester, the rebound hammer, the ultrasonic pulse velocity, the pullout tester, and the penetration probe. The tests were carried out on 6 multiplied by 12-in. (150 multiplied by 300-mm) cylinders and 18 multiplied by 24 multiplied by 4-in. (460 multiplied by 610 multiplied by 100-mm) slab blocks at ages of 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, and 28 days. It was found that linear and power regression equations were best suited to fit most of the data and to relate it to the compressive strength of the concrete. The tests covered compressive strength in the range of 450 to 3,500 psi (3. 1 to 24. 1 MPa). The new pin penetration tester had a slightly higher coefficient of correlation than the other testers when all the data from the cylinders and the blocks were analyzed together.
It has been shown in Part I that the state of stress in elastic undamaged concrete has a great influence on the propagation of elastic waves. In particular, it induces an acoustical anisotropy. In damaged concrete both the acoustical and mechanical properties are modified in different ways. In the load direction (for the compression test) the elastic modulus decreases whereas the longitudinal wave is not perturbed. To explain this discrepancy, in this paper the damaged medium is considered as an homogenous microcracked material. The solutions of the wave equations are used to identify the different parameters such as the crack density or the shape factor of the cracks.