Non‐destructive testing as a tool in reinforced concrete buildings refurbishments

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to report a case study regarding the combined use of several non‐destructive techniques (NDTs) as a tool in the management of diagnosis and refurbishment of a damaged reinforced concrete building.

Design/methodology/approach

Four types of NDTs have been selected and carried out on the pillars of the building: visual inspection, electromagnetic rebar location, sonic test and rebound hammer test. The campaign has been planned and run in order to get the highest amount of reliable data about materials degradation and structural safety with limited costs and limited interference with the functionality of the building.

Findings

The diagnostic campaign highlighted the usefulness of the selected techniques in the diagnosis of the type and the amount of degradation, thus permitting a plan of refurbishments to be defined, and to get a realistic estimation of restoration costs.

Practical implications

NDTs' ability to specifically identify a type of damage may be viewed as a reliable tool in assessing and managing the structural life‐cycle cost.

Originality/value

The presented case study highlighted that NDTs are very likely to locate and quantify the damage of materials and buildings, so that they can be considered as one of the most important parts of health monitoring of civil structures and infrastructures.

Citation

Concu, G., De Nicolo, B. and Pani, L. (2011), "Non‐destructive testing as a tool in reinforced concrete buildings refurbishments", Structural Survey, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 147-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/02630801111132821