In situ rapid testing for assessing quality of concrete
AssigneeThe Florida International University Board of Trustees
InventorsAtorod Azizinamini, Amer I. Awwad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided to simulate, approximate, or replicate conditions similar to concrete elements being placed under pressures equivalent to several hundred feet of ocean water and to provide information useful to assess relative durability of concrete without coring or other destructive actions. The quality of concrete can be assessed by measuring the pressure drop of water or other liquid to ingress through the concrete surface under high pressure over time. A rapid assessment of quality of existing concrete is provided. Systems and methods can efficiently assess long term durability of existing concrete elements such as those used in midrise buildings, parking garages, bridge decks, and the like.
Claims20
A method for in situ rapid testing for assessing quality of a concrete test specimen at a test area on an outer surface thereof, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing a sustained static pressure of a test fluid to the test area on the outer surface of the concrete test specimen, the static pressure being an elevated pressure equivalent to submerging the concrete test specimen under a predetermined depth of water;
- measuring the static pressure of the test fluid over a test period to create a multiplicity of test measurements;
- recording the multiplicity of test measurements to create a test data set;
- analyzing the test data set to determine a test result;
- and
- reporting the test result.
A method for in situ rapid testing for assessing quality of a concrete test specimen at a test area on an outer surface thereof, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing a sustained static pressure of a test fluid to the test area on the outer surface of the concrete test specimen;
- measuring the static pressure of the test fluid over a test period to create a multiplicity of test measurements;
- recording the multiplicity of test measurements to create a test data set;
- analyzing the test data set to determine a test result;
- reporting the test result;
- identifying the concrete test specimen and the test area on an existing concrete structure;
- attaching a system for in situ rapid testing to the concrete test specimen around the test area;
- and
- using the system for in situ rapid testing to provide the sustained static pressure of the test fluid to the test area,
- the system for in situ rapid testing comprising:
- a pressure fitting configured and adapted to deliver the test fluid at the sustained static pressure to the test area;
- a gasket configured and adapted to seal the pressure fitting to the outer surface of the concrete test specimen around the test area;
- a support structure configured and adapted to secure the pressure fitting with respect to the outer surface of the concrete test specimen and the gasket under one or more forces created by the sustained static pressure of the test fluid;
- a pressure source configured and adapted to generate the sustained static pressure of the test fluid;
- a plumbing structure configured and adapted to deliver the test fluid from the pressure source to the pressure fitting;
- a pressure measurement device configured and adapted to measure the sustained static pressure of the test fluid, creating a series of pressure measurements over time;
- and
- a data acquisition module configured and adapted to record the series of pressure measurements over time.
A method for in situ rapid testing for assessing quality of a concrete test specimen at a test area on an outer surface thereof, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing a sustained static pressure of a test fluid to the test area on the outer surface of the concrete test specimen, the static pressure being an elevated pressure equivalent to submerging the concrete test specimen under a predetermined depth of water;
- measuring the static pressure of the test fluid over a test period to create a multiplicity of test measurements;
- recording the multiplicity of test measurements to create a test data set;
- analyzing the test data set to determine a test result;
- and
- reporting the test result,
- the step of analyzing the test data set comprising sub steps of:
- creating a validation standard;
- and
- comparing the test data set against the validation standard to determine the test result,
- the sub step of creating a validation standard comprising testing one or more concrete samples of known quality to produce a validation data set,
- the validation standard comprising either a threshold value, a slope of a line, or both, derived from the validation data set, and
- the method further comprising the following steps:
- identifying the concrete test specimen and the test area on an existing concrete structure;
- attaching a system for in situ rapid testing to the concrete test specimen around the test area;
- and
- using the system for in situ rapid testing to provide the sustained static pressure of the test fluid to the test area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.