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US 2015/0309007 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for non-destructive testing of concrete
AssigneeNLA Diagnostics LLC
InventorsAldo Bellotti, Ralph N. Strayhorn, IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method for determining characteristics of a concrete sample includes the use of multiple transducers at pre-determined positions with respect to each other. The transducers are coupled to the concrete surface so that they can impart and/or receive mechanical waves from the sample. Mechanical waves may be imparted to the sample by one or more transducers or by an impact hammer. A control device receives the output from receiving transducers and analyzes data there from to determine a desired characteristic of the sample.
Claims29
A method of determining a characteristic of a concrete sample, comprising the steps of
- disposing at least one broadband transducer in contact with a surface of a concrete sample;
- imparting a first mechanical wave in the concrete sample at a position proximate the broadband transducer so that a standing wave is established in the concrete sample and so that the standing wave is detectable by the at least one broadband transducer;
- detecting the standing wave at the at least one broadband transducer and responsively generating at least one corresponding output signal;
- determining from the at least one broadband transducer output signal a resonant frequency of the standing wave;
- disposing a plurality of narrowband transducers in contact with the concrete surface at predetermined distances from each other;
- actuating at least one of the narrowband transducers so that the at least one transducer imparts a second mechanical wave at the surface of the concrete sample;
- receiving the second mechanical wave by at least one other said narrowband transducer and responsively generating at least one respective output signal;
- based on the at least one narrowband transducer output signal, determining a velocity of the second mechanical wave;
- and
- based on the velocity of the second mechanical wave and the resonant frequency, determining a depth of a characteristic of the concrete sample.
7 more elements
A device for determining characteristics of a concrete sample, comprising:
- an impact device for imparting a first mechanical wave to a concrete sample so that a standing wave is established in the concrete sample;
- at least one broadband transducer for detecting the standing wave and responsively generating an output signal;
- a frame;
- a plurality of narrowband transducers secured by the frame at predetermined distances with respect to each other and so that coupling surfaces of the narrowband transducers are generally coincident to a surface shape corresponding to the surface of the concrete sample;
- and
- a control device in communication with the broadband transducer and the narrowband transducers, the control device being configured to
- receive at least one said output signal from the at least one broadband transducer,
- actuate at least one of the narrowband transducers to impart a second mechanical wave at the surface of the concrete sample,
- receive at least one output signal from and generated by respective at least one other of the narrowband transducers in response to reception of the second mechanical wave,
- determine from the at least one broadband transducer output signal a resonant frequency of the standing wave,
- based on the at least one narrowband transducer output signal, determine a velocity of the second mechanical wave, and
- based on the velocity of the second mechanical wave and the resonant frequency, determine a depth of a characteristic of the concrete sample.
9 more elements
A device for determining characteristics of a concrete sample, comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of shear wave transducers secured by the frame at predetermined distances with respect to each other and so that coupling surfaces of the shear wave transducers are generally coincident to a surface shape corresponding to the surface of the concrete sample;
- a plurality of primary wave transducers secured by the frame at predetermined distances with respect to each other and so that coupling surfaces of the primary wave transducers are generally coincident with the surface shape;
- and
- a control device in communication with the shear wave transducers and the primary wave transducers and configured to
- actuate at least one of the shear wave transducers so that the at least one shear wave transducer imparts a shear wave in the concrete sample,
- actuate at least one of the primary wave transducers so that the at least one primary wave transducer imparts a primary wave in the concrete sample,
- receive at least one output signal from respective at least one other of the shear wave transducers in response to reception of the shear wave by the at least one other shear wave transducer, and
- receive at least one output signal from respective at least one other of the primary wave transducers in response to reception of the primary wave by the at least one other primary wave transducer.
6 more elements
A device for determining characteristics of a concrete sample, comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of first transducers secured by the frame at predetermined positions with respect to each other and so that coupling surfaces of the first transducers are generally coplanar with each other;
- and
- a control device in communication with the first transducers and configured to
- actuate at least one of the first transducers so that the at least one first transducer imparts a mechanical wave in the concrete sample,
- receive at least one output signal from respective at least one other of the first transducers in response to reception of the mechanical wave by the at least one other first transducer,
- based on the received at least one output signal, determining a depth of a characteristic of the concrete sample,
- wherein the first transducers are arranged in the frame so that an area
- that is within a plane parallel to the coupling surfaces and in the concrete sample and
- that is bounded within the plane by an extent of said mechanical waves that pass through the plane and that are receivable by the first transducers
- has a dimension parallel to the coupling surfaces of at least about two feet.
8 more elements
A device for determining characteristics of a concrete sample, comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of first transducers secured by the frame at predetermined positions with respect to each other and so that coupling surfaces of the first transducers are generally coplanar with each other;
- and
- a control device in communication with the first transducers and configured to
- actuate at least one of the first transducers so that the at least one first transducer imparts a mechanical wave in the concrete sample,
- receive at least one output signal from respective at least one other of the first transducers in response to reception of the mechanical wave by the at least one other first transducer,
- based on the received at least one output signal, determining a depth of a characteristic of the concrete sample,
- wherein the first transducers are arranged in the frame so that an area
- that is within a plane parallel to the coupling surfaces and in the concrete sample and
- that is bounded within the plane by an extent of said mechanical waves that pass through the plane and that are receivable by the first transducers
- has a dimension parallel to the coupling surfaces at least as long as a distance between reinforcing bars in the concrete sample.
8 more elements
A device for determining characteristics of a concrete sample, comprising:
- a frame:
- a plurality of transducers secured by the frame at predetermined positions with respect to each other so that coupling surfaces of the first transducers are generally coplanar with each other, wherein
- a plurality of first said transducers are primary wave transducers and are secured in the frame so that they are aligned linearly with respect to each other,
- a plurality of second said transducers are shear wave transducers, and
- a plurality of third said transducers are primary wave transducers;
- and
- a control device that is
- in communication with the first transducers and configured to actuate at least one of the first transducers so that the at least one first transducer imparts a mechanical wave in the concrete sample, receive at least one output signal from at least one other of the first transducers in response to reception of the mechanical wave by the at least one other first transducer, and based on the signal received from the at least one other of the first transducers, determiner a depth of a characteristic of the concrete sample,
- in communication with the second transducers and configured to actuate at least one of the second transducers so that the at least one second transducer imparts a mechanical shear wave in the concrete sample, receive at least one output signal from at least one other of the second transducers in response to reception of the mechanical wave by the at least one other second transducer, and based on the signal received from the at least one other of the second transducers, determine a velocity of the mechanical shear wave, and
- in communication with the third transducers and configured to actuate at least one of the third transducers so that the at least one third transducer imparts a mechanical primary wave in the concrete sample, receive at least one output signal from at least one other of the third transducers in response to reception of the mechanical wave by the at least one other third transducer, and based on the signal received from the at least one other of the third transducers, determine a velocity of the mechanical primary wave,
- wherein the plurality of transducers includes a number of the first transducers extending a distance in linear alignment at least as long as a predetermined expected maximum separation of the characteristic in concrete.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.