Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
| Recent KKCS experience using NDT techniques will help our clients reduce overall cost of infrastructure repair includes usage of the following techniques -Ground penetrating radar (GPR) to identify rebar locations and detect internal voids and delamination. Rebound hammer to measure in-place concrete strength. Half-Cell potential test to examine corrosion of rebar inside concrete columns.Ultrasonic pulse velocity method to measure the concrete strength and examine uniformity of concrete. Using data from these tests and appropriate structural modeling and calculations, KKCS determined the allowable stresses on the 80 year old structure and recommended a retrofit strategy that increased the concrete strength and rebar protection and reduced stress levels in the existing structure. The retrofit strategy was employed rapidly and did not require a system outage. | |
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NDT Techniques use mechanical wave, electromagnetic wave, radiation, etc to detect defects, dimensions, and other physical properties without damaging the infrastructure.
Typical NDT techniques include Ultrasound, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity, Ground Penetrating Radar, Radiography, Impact-response, Electro-chemical techniques, infrared thermography, magnetic flux, acoustic emission, etc. |
| Public Works and private industries use NDT techniques to estimate in-place strength of structural members to determine the need for rehabilitation or replacement. For example, NDT techniques can measure cracking and corrosion of steel members and connections; corrosion of steel reinforcement (rebar) in concrete structures; cracking, voiding, and debonding inside concrete structures and pavement; undermining of foundation beneath structures, etc. NDT can be used on buildings, bridges, towers, tunnels, balconies, garages, decks, columns, slabs, monuments and other structural components. appropriate retrofit to extend the life of the structure. |