PCTE - Test Methods

Concrete Resistivity

Resistivity is bulk resistance, the amount of resistance for a given volume of material in kΩcm. A current is applied across two probes, and two other probes record Voltage change, from which the Resistivity is calculated.

Crack Measurement

Crack measurement in concrete involves optically measuring or monitoring over time the width of cracks on the concrete surface to confirm compliance with specifications and provide insight for durability of construction.

Crack Monitoring

Crack Monitoring devices and sensors are installed around a crack suspected of being "live", still in motion over time. The installer, or a data logging system records changes in the width of the crack over time.

Eddy Current Cover Meter

Eddy Current Cover Measurements use an alternating current in a coil of wire to induce a matching current in reinforcing steel, and measure the cover depth and estimate the diameter.

Electrical Continuity

Electrical continuity testing in concrete assesses the electrical connectivity between metallic components such as reinforcement bars to ensure they are properly joined for electrical grounding and corrosion protection purposes.

Electrochemical Corrosion Monitoring

Electrochemical corrosion monitoring in concrete involves using sensors to measure the electrochemical activity within the concrete, providing insights into the rate of corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement and the effectiveness of corrosion mitigation measures.

Ground Penetrating Radar

GPR uses electromagnetic wave propagation to image and identify changes in electrical and magnetic properties in the ground. GPR systems are most commonly used to locate underground utilities and services or to locate reinforcing, post tensioning and measure thickness in concrete.

Half Cell Potential Mapping

Half-cell potential mapping in concrete is a non-destructive testing method for assessing the likelihood of corrosion of reinforcing steel by measuring electrical potential difference on the concrete surface.

Impact Echo Testing

Impact echo testing in concrete is a noninvasive technique that uses the resonant response to stress waves (sound / compression waves) generated by mechanical impact to evaluate the integrity and thickness of the structure and detect flaws such as cracks, voids, and delaminations.

Lightweight Deflectometer

Lightweight deflectometers are portable testing devices used to assess the compaction quality and load-bearing capacity of soil and pavement materials by measuring the surface deflection in response to a known applied load.

Optical Film Thickness

A diagonal slice is measured optically with a microscope, appropriate on any substrate.

Pinhole Detection

Pinhole detection within coatings on concrete is a quality control technique that identifies discontinuities or flaws in protective coatings by applying a voltage potential across the coating and substrate to reveal areas where the coating is insufficient or damaged.

Pull Off Adhesion

Pull-off testing of coatings on concrete is a method to assess the adhesion strength of a coating or overlay material by measuring the force required to detach it from the substrate using a direct tensile pull.

Rebound Hammer

Rebound hammer testing in concrete is a non-destructive method that estimates the surface hardness and, indirectly, the compressive strength of concrete by measuring the rebound energy of a spring-loaded mass impacting the concrete surface.

Relative Humidity

Relative humidity (RH) testing for moisture in concrete involves inserting probes into the concrete to measure the moisture vapour emission rate, providing an accurate assessment of the concrete's internal moisture condition.

Roll Profile Measurment

Roll Profile Hardness Test Equipment will record a comparative measure of hardness for rolls of cardboard, paper or film and present the data as a diagram of roll hardness. Common technologies are impact based, including rebound hammer, Leeb U, or Impact hammer deceleration.

Slab Impulse Response

Slab Impulse Response uses the motion caused by a hammer blow to identify subgrade voiding or poor support below slabs on grade or behind retaining walls and tunnel linings.

Sonic Echo Pile Integrity

Sonic Echo Pile Integrity testing is a non-destructive method used to assess the condition and integrity of columnar foundations by analysing the reflections of stress waves generated by striking the pile head with a hammer, to detect flaws or discontinuities and confirm length.

Surface Profile

Surface Profile Gauges for concrete are instruments used to measure the roughness or texture of a concrete surface prior to application of coatings, ensuring that the surface meets a specification or standard to ensure optimal coating adhesion.

Temperature

Temperature monitoring of concrete involves the use of wired or wireless sensors to measure and record the temperature inside concrete structures during curing, ensuring optimal crystal growth and preventing thermal cracking.

UPE - Multi Channel Array

Ultrasonic Pulse Echo testing in concrete, using a multi-channel array, is an advanced non-destructive technique that employs multiple transducers to generate detailed images of the concrete's internal features, significantly improving the detection of flaws, voids, and assessment of material properties.

UPV Crack Depth

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Crack Depth Measurement determines the depths of vertical cracks in concrete according to BS 1881. The method measures surface velocities in and/or near the crack and use a trigonometric formula to estimate the crack depth. The calculation assumes the crack is open and air filled and vertical.

Test Methods