Methods for determining the young's modulus of a cementitious material

A method comprising:

• locating a piezoelectric sensor within a cavity of a receptacle that is disposed within a cavity of a form, the cavity of the receptacle defined by one or more boundaries;
• fixing the piezoelectric sensor in a predetermined position and orientation within the cavity of the form with the receptacle;
• filling the cavity of the form defined by one or more boundaries with an uncured concrete mixture;
• filling the receptacle with the uncured concrete mixture prior to, after, or simultaneously with the filling of the cavity of the form, wherein the uncured concrete mixture contacts or envelops the piezoelectric sensor within the form;
• receiving an electrical signal from the piezoelectric sensor as the uncured concrete mixture cures within the form to define a concrete sample such that the piezoelectric sensor is embedded within the concrete sample;
• determining an electrical signal-frequency spectrum of the electrical signal received from the piezoelectric sensor;
• determining a resonant frequency of the concrete sample based on the electrical signal-frequency spectrum;
• determining a Young's modulus of the concrete sample based on the resonant frequency thereof;
• and
• outputting the determined Young's modulus or information based on the determined Young's modulus;
• wherein the receptacle is electrically and acoustically insulative such that one or more boundaries of the receptacle reflect and contains stress wave therein and induce resonance of vibrations as the uncured concrete mixture therein cures, and the predetermined position of the piezoelectric sensor is within the receptacle.