CONCRETE DETERIORATION

In the past concrete deterioration information has been collected by visual inspection and physical testing. Now with the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), concrete deterioration investigations are cost effective, efficient and is non destructive.

GPR operates by transmitting short pulses of electromagnetic energy into the concrete. These pulses are reflected back to an antenna with an arrical time and amplitude that is related to the location and nature of dielectric variation in the material. The reflected energy is captured and displayed on an oscilloscope to form a series of pulses that are referred to as the radar waveform. The waveform contains a record of the properties and thicknesses of the layers within the concrete.

Specifically, Amplitude testing predicts the presence or absence of concrete deterioration above the level of the top layer of reinforcing and/or corrosion of reinforcing bars.