Use of Non-Destructive Testing to Monitor Health of Pavements in the UVic Bus Loop
Date
2023-03-16
Authors
Thorkelsson, Madeleine
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Abstract
Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials. Health monitoring of concrete structures is important to ensuring public safety. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods are a non-intrusive approach to assessing concrete health. Rectangular samples were taken from the mix designs used for the UVic bus loop concrete bus pads that were poured in August 2023. The samples were formed from identical mix designs, except one contained carbon fiber (0.5% by volume). These samples were used as a proxy to study the health of the bus pads. The samples were stored outdoors to allow for the same exposure as the bus pads. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) and Rebound Hammer tests were conducted on the samples on two occasions, three months apart. It was found that both samples experienced a loss in overall compressive strength and a decrease in pulse velocity, indicating the formation of cracks. The sample containing carbon fiber appeared to have formed more cracks but experienced a smaller loss in compressive strength compared to the control sample. This is most likely due to the ability of fibres in concrete to maintain post-crack strength as they span the crack mouths.
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Keywords
Concrete, Rebound Hammer, UPV, NDTs