A Survey of Developments in Ultrasonic NDE of Concrete

The goal of this paper is to develop an understanding of the current state of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation in the concrete community. Methods supplemental to the less than satisfactory proceedure specified in ASTM C-597 are discussed. It is hoped that such an understanding, in conjuntion with a feeling for the nature of reinforced concrete as a material, will promote research interest in this important field. Following an introductory problem statement, a literature review concerning the existing use of stress waves for the nondestructive evaluation of concrete is presented. An examination of current practice is offered. Next, new approaches are selected and reviewed from the current literature. In all cases, these are approaches that have been successful in applications to advanced engineering materials other than concrete. Where appropriate, potential benefits and pitfalls of each new technique, as applied to concrete, will be discussed.