Experimental evaluation of indirect sonic wave transmission technique in the diagnosis and monitoring of concrete slabs

CONCU, GIOVANNA;De Nicolo B;MISTRETTA, FAUSTO;Pani L.

2009-01-01

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Abstract

An experimental program has been started with the purpose of evaluating the reliability of the sonic Indirect Transmission Technique (ITT) in the damage diagnosis of reinforced concrete elements. Four concrete slabs, two lightened by polystyrene and two entirely made of reinforced concrete, have been tested carrying out on them the ITT before and after a punching-load test. The ITT has been performed settling the transducers on concentric circumferences instead of on nodes of a squared mesh as usually done in standard operating procedure. This innovative procedure permits to intercept anomalies oriented in different ways, thus leading to a richer information concerning the tested areas. Results show that the ITT is a suitable technique for crack-damage detecting.