CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF BUILDING CONCRETE STRUCTURES USING NDTs – CASE STUDY

Abstract

The quality of concrete and serviceability for three old buildings utilizing non-destructive testing (NDT) method of rebound hammer (RH) and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) was assessed in the present study. Identification, classification and evaluation of in-situ concrete have helped us to decide whether these three buildings need to be repaired and in result extent their service life or it is not acceptable for its intended usage and they need to be demolished. To evaluate the level of deterioration in historical and fire-damaged buildings or infrastructures, non-destructive testing (NDT) methods can be used. In fact, NDT method employs inspection techniques to evaluate engineering properties to see if it is acceptable for its intended usage that does not need specimens to be crushed like the destructive testing method. The NDT method of rebound hammer (RH) and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) in combination with conventional methods such as internal and external visual inspection and concrete color change to locate deterioration was used to evaluate the quality of concrete structures for three old buildings. According to the results obtained the RH and UPV can be used as reliable tools to predict the mechanical properties of concrete structures subjected to fire and/or weathering deterioration. In addition, combining the two NDTs decreased inaccuracies caused by utilizing one method alone to evaluate concrete quality.