Damage analysis of concrete members containing expansive agent by mechanical and acoustic methods

Shrinkage compensating concrete (SCC) and Self-stressing concrete (SSC) technique have been employed for reducing early-age cracking and leakage while the addition of expansive agent would have a negative impact on mechanical properties and durability. The objective of the current research was to quantitatively assess the damage development in cementitious materials with expansive agent by both the strength tests and nondestructive acoustic tests including ultrasonic measurements and acoustic emission (AE) tests. The damage degree was defined based on strength as well as ultrasonic properties and a significant linear relationship was observed between the damage degree and autogenous strains. AE parameters such as AE amplitude, AE counts and AE energy were related to AE activity of the cement-expansive agent system. Crack mode identification was performed based on the relationship between average frequency and RA value (rise time/amplitude). A decreasing ratio of tensile cracks and an increasing ratio of shear cracks were observed which could be an indication of aggravated damage inside the materials.     

Cooling cycle effects on low temperature cracking characteristics of asphalt concrete mixture

The effect of cooling cycles on the low temperature behavior of asphalt concrete mixtures is investigated using a recently developed acoustic emission (AE) test device. In an attempt to link the local AE response of the asphalt mixtures to the pavement global response obtained through mechanical tests, the AE-based results were validated using traditional mechanical pavement performance testing methods namely, the disk-shaped compact tension [DC(T)] test and the indirect tensile test (IDT) method. Field-aged pavement cores, which were expected to have a gradient in binder aging properties (more aging near the surface of the pavement), were collected and tested. Test results revealed that significant damage resulted from cyclic cooling, effecting the fracture energy and stress relaxation ability of the asphalt mixture. The AE results collected were consistent with the results obtained using the DC(T) and the IDT test methods. The so-called Felicity effect was observed by evaluating AE activity occurring in a sample subjected to multiple cooling cycles and an AE based healing index was introduced to evaluate the amount of healing that resulted from warming cycles. Low temperature induced microdamage was also investigated using X-ray computer micro-tomography, in an effort to better understand the physical nature of microcracking in asphalt mixtures at low temperatures and the source of AE emissions detected.     

Influence of mixing procedure and mixer type on fresh and hardened properties of concrete: a review

Mixing concrete is not yet a fully understood issue, with many parameters having an influence on the resulting fresh and hardened concrete properties. Even for the same composition, a somewhat different microstructure can be obtained by changing the mixing procedure and the mixer type. A mixing procedure can differ in mixing time, mixing speed, air pressure in the mixing pan, addition time of the superplasticizer, temperature, etc. The concrete industry shows a great interest in controlling these influences in order to produce a concrete of which the mechanical, rheological and durability properties are well known. In this overview, different concrete mixers, mixing times, mixing speeds, different addition times of the superplasticizer and a different air pressure in the mixing pan will be examined. A review of existing literature is presented, as well as some new experimental results.     

Acoustic and Electromagnetic Emissions as Precursor Phenomena in Failure Processes

Abstract: In this work, we measured the electromagnetic field, given by the moving charges, during laboratory fracture experiments on specimens made of different heterogeneous materials. We investigated the mechanical behaviour of concrete and rocks samples loaded up to their failure by the analysis of acoustic emission (AE) and electromagnetic emission (EME). All specimens were tested in compression at a constant displacement rate and monitored by piezoelectric (PZT) transducers for AE data acquisition. Simultaneous investigation into magnetic activity was performed by a measuring device calibrated according to metrological requirements. In all the considered cases, the presence of AE signals has been always observed during the damage process, whereas it is very interesting to note that the magnetic signals were generally observed only in correspondence to sharp stress drops or the final collapse.     

Acoustic emission waveform characterization of crack origin and mode in fractured and ASR damaged concrete

Different constituents of concrete can have cracking behavior that varies in terms of the acoustic waveform that is generated. Understanding the waveform may provide insight into the source and behavior of a crack that occurs in a cementitious composite. In this study, passive acoustic emission (AE) was used to investigate the waveform properties of the individual components of concrete (i.e., aggregate, paste, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ)). First, acoustic events produced by cracks generated using mechanical loading in a wedge splitting test were detected. It was observed that cracks that occurred through the aggregate have an AE frequency range between 300 kHz and 400 kHz, while cracks that propagated through the matrix (paste and ITZ) have a frequency range between 100 kHz and 300 kHz. Second, tests were performed using samples that were susceptible to alkali silica reaction; and AE and X-ray computed tomography were used to detect cracking. AE events with a frequency range between 300 kHz and 400 kHz were detected at early ages, suggesting the initiation of cracks within reactive aggregate. At later ages, AE events were detected with frequency ranges of 100–300 kHz, indicating crack development and propagation in the matrix.     

Corrosion Process and Mechanisms of Corrosion‐Induced Cracks in Reinforced Concrete identified by AE Analysis

Abstract: Concrete structures could suffer from the corrosion of reinforcing steel bars (rebars) because of the penetration of chloride ions. For crack detection and damage evaluation in concrete, acoustic emission (AE) techniques have been extensively applied to concrete and concrete structures. In the corrosion process of reinforced concrete, it is demonstrated that continuous AE monitoring is available to identify the onset of corrosion and the nucleation of concrete cracking because of the expansion of corrosion products. At the latter stage, the expansion of corrosion products generates corrosion‐induced cracks in concrete. The generating mechanisms of these cracks are studied in accelerated corrosion tests of reinforced concrete beams. Kinematics of microcracks are identified by SiGMA (Simplified Green’s functions for Moment tensor Analysis) analysis of AE. It is demonstrated that AE activity at the onset of corrosion and at the nucleation of corrosion‐induced cracks is in remarkable agreement with the phenomenological model of the corrosion process in steel. Then, mechanisms of corrosion‐induced cracks are visually and quantitatively investigated by the SiGMA analysis.     

Plastic viscosity of fresh concrete – A critical review of predictions methods

Rheological properties of fresh concrete, namely plastic viscosity and yield stress, are critical for the concrete industry because they affect placement and workability. Moreover, these rheological properties influence the productivity and quality of concrete, including mechanical properties and durability. Therefore proper characterization of these properties is needed to control the quality of fresh concrete and ensure sustainability of concrete structures.Fundamental and phenomenological rheological models have been proposed in the literature for characterizing the behaviour of fresh concrete. Establishing a model for predicting the plastic viscosity of concrete based on its composition will be extremely valuable for the concrete industry. This paper provides a critical review of the most prevailing models in concrete technology as well as models proposed in the literature for predicting the plastic viscosity of dense suspensions to a total of eight models. Review has revealed that Mahmoodzadeh and Chidiac models based on the cell method provides a higher degree of correlation to the experimental data as well as a more consistent and reliable predictions in comparison to the models currently proposed in the literature for concrete and/or dense suspensions.     

Acoustic emission for in situ monitoring in metal-matrix composite processing

The attractive elevated-temperature properties of metal-matrix composities (MMCs) have not been exploited in commercial applications partly because of the high processing cost and lack of reliability in fabrication. In this exploratory study, the feasibility of using acoustic emission (AE) as an in-process, non-destructive quality control technique is examined. A variation of the squeeze casting technique is selected for investigation. Acoustic emission is employed with the intent of non-intrusively establishing whether complete infiltration has occurred during composite fabrication. The problems due to the background noise during AE monitoring are overcome by using transducers with different frequency responses. The acoustic signatures of machine noise, preform crushing and metal solidification are obtained by employing suitable transducers in a series of tests that systematically evaluate the individual processes that comprise infiltration casting. The results form a strong basis for the development of an in situ AE sensor for the infiltration process.     

SCC modification by use of amorphous nano-silica

In this study two different types of nano-silica (nS) were applied in self-compacting concrete (SCC), both having similar particle size distributions (PSD), but produced through two different processes: fumed powder silica and precipitated silica in colloidal suspension. The influence of nano-silica on SCC was investigated with respect to the properties of concrete in fresh (workability) and hardened state (mechanical properties and durability). Additionally, the densification of the microstructure of the hardened concrete was verified by SEM and EDS analyses. The obtained results demonstrate that nano-silica efficiently used in SCC can improve its mechanical properties and durability. Considering the reactivity of the two applied nano-silicas, the colloidal type showed a higher reactivity at early age, which influenced the final SCC properties.     

Mechanical property degradation of a Nicalon fiber reinforced SiNC ceramic matrix composite under thermal shock loading

The degradation of mechanical properties of a SiC fiber reinforced SiNC ceramic matrix composite due to thermal shock by water quenching have been investigated. Post thermal shock tensile tests were performed to determine the degradation of mechanical properties of this composite. In situ acoustic emission (AE) tests were also conducted. The tensile tests data and acoustic emission data were correlated. The AE signal indicated a sudden increase in AE events at critical points in the stress–strain relationship. The effects of thermal shock temperature and the number of thermal shock cycles on the mechanical properties, and on the AE responses were also evaluated. It was observed that an increase in either factor resulted in more AE responses. Fracture damage in the tensile test specimens was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy. It was observed that the failure mechanism changed as the thermal shock temperature increased. The fracture surfaces of the specimens tested without thermal shock indicated an extensive fiber pullout while the thermally shocked specimens showed reduced fiber pullout.     

Recent trends in steel fibered high-strength concrete

Steel fibered high-strength concrete (SFHSC) became in the recent decades a very popular material in structural engineering. High strength attracts designers and architects as it allows improving the durability as well as the esthetics of a construction. As a result of increased application of SFHSC, many experimental studies are conducted to investigate its properties and to develop new rules for proper design. One of the trends in SFHSC structures is to provide their ductile behavior that is desired for proper structural response to dynamic loadings. An additional goal is to limit development and propagation of macro-cracks in the body of SFHSC elements. SFHSC is tough and demonstrates high residual strengths after appearance of the first crack. Experimental studies were carried out to select effective fiber contents as well as suitable fiber types, to study most efficient combination of fiber and regular steel bar reinforcement. Proper selection of other materials like silica fume, fly ash and super plasticizer has also high importance because of the influence on the fresh and hardened concrete properties. Combination of normal-strength concrete with SFHSC composite two-layer beams leads to effective and low cost solutions that may be used in new structures as well as well as for retrofitting existing ones. Using modern nondestructive testing techniques like acoustic emission and nonlinear ultrasound allows verification of most design parameters and control of SFHSC properties during casting and after hardening. This paper presents recent experimental results, obtained in the field SFHSC and non-destructive testing. It reviews the experimental data and provisions of existing codes and standards. Possible ways for developing modern design techniques for SFHSC structures are emphasized.     

Crack localization in a double-punched concrete cuboid with time reverse modeling of acoustic emissions

Time reverse modeling (TRM) is successfully applied to localize acoustic emissions (AE) obtained from a physical experiment (double punch test) on a 118 × 120 × 160 mm concrete cuboid. Previously, feasibility studies using numerical (Ricker wavelet) and experimental (pencil-lead break) excitations are performed to demonstrate the applicability of TRM to real AE waveforms. Numerical simulations are performed assuming an uncracked and heterogeneous concrete model. The localization results from the numerical and experimental feasibility studies are compared and verified. The AE recorded during the double punch test are localized in a three-dimensional domain using TRM. The localization results are superposed with the three-dimensional threshold-segmented crack patterns obtained from X-ray computed tomography scans of the failed concrete cuboid. The presented TRM approach represents a reliable localization tool for signal-based AE analysis.     

自密实混凝土稳定性机理及其影响因素研究新进展

自密实混凝土浇筑成型后发生离析会对力学性能和耐久性能产生不同程度的危害,这一问题决定了自密实混凝土在满足施工性能的同时必须具有足够的稳定性。而自密实混凝土高流动性、高填充性及高间隙通过性等优异的工作性能特征,又决定了其拌合物的稳定性高度敏感。从静态稳定性和动态稳定性两方面分别阐述了自密实混凝土的稳定性机理,探讨了自密实混凝土静态稳定性和动态稳定性的表征方法,从配合比参数、拌合物流变性能、施工工艺等方面讨论了影响自密实混凝土稳定性的因素,提出了自密实混凝土稳定性的研究前景。     

The efficiency of self-healing concrete using alternative manufacturing procedures and more realistic crack patterns

During the last years, more and more research has been devoted to self-healing in cementitious materials. While most research is still done on carefully prepared small-scale mortar samples with predefined cracks, the healing efficiency should be investigated after exposure of the capsules to the concrete mixing and casting process and for random appearing cracks. In the current study, the resistance of brittle encapsulation materials, containing polyurethane, against the mixing and manufacturing process of concrete was studied. Different methods to protect the capsules were proposed and evaluated. In addition, realistic crack patterns were created in beams with embedded capsules. Non-destructive testing techniques such as digital image correlation, acoustic emission analysis and X-ray radiography were used to evaluate the survivability of the capsules upon mixing and the breakability of the capsules upon crack formation. Evaluation of the crack repair efficiency by performing water permeability tests showed some improvement in water tightness due to self-healing, but the water ingress into the cracks was not completely prevented.     

Relative damage evaluation of concrete in a road bridge by AE rate-process analysis

It is widely reported and realized that durability of concrete decreases due to such effects, as salt and chemical attack, freezing and thawing, and carbonation and fatigue. In existing structures mechanical damage of concrete has been practically estimated from the strength by a compression test and a rebound hammer test. For effective maintenance of concrete structures, it is necessary to evaluate quantitatively not only the strength of concrete but also the degree of damage. Quantitative damage evaluation of structural concrete is proposed by applying acoustic emission (AE) technique and damage mechanics. Consequently, damage evaluation is conducted on concrete cores of an existing structure. Core-samples were collected from an arch fragment of a reinforced concrete road bridge that had been in service for 87 years. Compressive strengths and Young’s moduli were measured during the compression test along with AE measurement. Dynamic Young’s moduli were also calculated from the longitudinal wave velocity. Thus the relative damages are quantitatively evaluated from static and dynamic Young's moduli and compared with results of AE rate-process analysis.     

Effectiveness of nonlinear ultrasonic and acoustic emission evaluation of concrete with distributed damages

Nonlinear ultrasonic (NLU) and acoustic emission (AE) techniques are used for nondestructive evaluation of concrete, damaged under compression loading. Experiments were carried out in 18 cubic specimens (150 × 150 × 150 mm) cast with three different w/c (six specimens for each w/c). Three specimens at each w/c were used for AE monitoring and three others for NLU evaluation. The NLU evaluation is based on measuring the change in fundamental amplitude with increasing damage and output power level. In acoustic emission testing technique four sensors were used to listen to the wide range of events under various loading and unloading cycles. An increase in AE hits was observed with increasing damage. Each loading and unloading stage was carefully examined for Kaiser and Felicity effects in order to assess the concrete deterioration. It was proposed to measure Felicity ratio at three different loading levels, corresponding to AE hits at 3%, 5%, and 10% of the AE hits at the previous maximum load, respectively. Normalized values of Felicity ratio were plotted and compared with the NLU test data. Correlation between acoustic emission and nonlinear ultrasonic techniques in assessing damage growth in concrete was investigated.     

Fracture process and reliability of concrete made from high grade recycled aggregate using acoustic emission technique under compression

The increasing amount of waste concrete makes desirable collection of high quality of recycled aggregate from waste concrete to be reused for construction. This research used high grade recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) created using pulsed power technology to make concrete specimens. Concrete created from natural aggregate was also prepared to compare the properties of concrete made using pulsed power recycled aggregate. Established acoustic emission (AE) parameter analyses which are AE hit, relationship between RA value and average frequency, and b-value of AE amplitude distribution were applied to analyze the concrete fracture behavior. In addition, AE Weibull analysis was also proposed to evaluate the reliability of the concrete. A set of AE measurement testing was applied to the concrete specimens during compression loading. At the age of 28 days, compressive strength reaches 35.4 MPa and Young’s modulus is 23.6 GPa. The results indicate that the fracture process and reliability of concrete made using pulsed power RCA is similar to that of natural coarse aggregate concrete suggesting that both concrete have equivalent characteristic under compression. Furthermore, the good agreement results shared by AE Weibull analysis with those of other analyses suggesting this method can also be employed as one parameter to determine the condition of concrete.     

Acoustic Emission as a Tool for Damage Identification and Characterization in Glass Reinforced Cross Ply Laminates

Loading of cross-ply laminates leads to the activation of distinct damage mechanisms, such as matrix cracking, delaminations between successive plies and fibre rupture at the final stage of loading. This study deals with the investigation of the failure of cross ply composites by acoustic emission (AE). Broadband AE sensors monitor the elastic waves originating from different sources of failure in coupons of this material during a tensile loading-unloading test. The cumulative number of AE activity, and other qualitative indices based on the waveforms shape, were well correlated to the sustained load and mechanical degradation as expressed by the gradual decrease of elastic modulus. AE parameters indicate the succession of failure mechanisms within the composite as the load increases. The proposed methodology based on Acoustic Emission for the identification of the damage stage of glass reinforced cross ply laminates is an initial step which may provide insight for the study of more complex laminations.     

Monitoring of Impacted Aramid-Reinforced Composites by Embedded PVDF Acoustic Emission Sensors

Abstract:  An embedded piezoelectric [poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)] thin film sensors system for acoustic emission (AE) was realized to investigate the possibility of monitoring, in real time, the post-impact damage in aramid woven fabric-reinforced epoxy. The same sensors have been used in a previous work on similar specimens tested in flexure but not previously impacted, with the aim of verifying the suitability of these sensors to be embedded and their ability to detect AE signals under loading. This work is a continuation of the previous one aiming at evaluating the ability of these embedded PVDF sensors to point out the presence of impact damage, issue widely studied in literature. Aramid fibre/epoxy composite specimens with embedded PVDFs, previously impacted at different energies, namely 5, 10 and 15 J, were tested using three-point bending tests. It appeared from mechanical tests that the flexural strength decreased passing from non-impacted specimens to those impacted with the highest energy and that the embedment of PVDFs in the laminates did not markedly affect the structural integrity of the impacted composites. The degree of impact damage, represented by the decrease in mechanical properties, has been correlated with the AE activity by means of a parametric analysis of the AE signals detected during post-impact mechanical tests.     

Effect of sludge water from ready-mixed concrete plant on properties and durability of concrete

Besides the increasing disposal cost, sludge water, a wastewater washout from ready-mixed concrete plant, has caused environmental impact problems. This paper investigates the utilization and recycling of sludge water as mixing water for concrete production. The basic properties of sludge water were obtained according to ASTM standards. The properties of dry sludge powder such as chemical compositions and physical properties were investigated. The properties of fresh concrete studied were unit weight, slump, and temperature rise. The mechanical properties of concrete, such as compressive strength and modulus of elasticity, were studied. The durability aspects, such as drying shrinkage and weight loss due to acid attack, were investigated. For parametric study, sludge water was used as a replacement of tap water varying from 0% to 100% by weight. The water-to-cement ratios were 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7, respectively. In this study the sludge water tested has a high alkalinity and the total solids content exceeding the limit of ASTM C94, contributing to the more porous and weaker matrix. As a result, when increasing the percentage of sludge water in mixing water, the drying shrinkage and weight loss due to acid attacks increased, and the slump and strength decreased. However, the unit weight and temperature of fresh concrete were not affected by the use of sludge water.