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Non-destructive evaluation of concrete moisture by GPR: Experimental study and direct modeling

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Abstract

This paper reports research into the application of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology to the physical characterization of concrete and gives the details and results of an experimental study on the effect of concrete moisture on radar waves propagating through concrete laboratory slabs. Radar measurements were performed using a commercial radar system with 1.5 GHz ground-coupled antennas. The concrete slabs were conditioned so as to possess different degrees of saturation and a homogeneous moisture distribution. Electrical resistivity measurements were also carried out on each concrete sample to provide complementary information regarding the moisture content of the concrete. Interesting results were found concerning the ability of the radar technique to characterize the moisture state of concrete. Attention was especially focused on the amplitude, velocity and frequency spectrum of the waveforms recorded. In particular, the behavior of the transmitter-receiver direct wave was found to be greatly influenced by the moisture in the concrete. Finally, some experimental results were simulated using a simple dielectric model of heterogeneous mixtures.

Résumé

Les travaux de recherche relatés dans cet article portent sur l'application de la technologie géoradar (GPR) à la caractérisation physique du béton. Les auteurs présentent les détails et les résultats d'une étude expérimentale sur l'effet de l'état d'humidité sur les ondes radar se propageant dans le béton. Les mesures radar sont réalisées au moyen d'un système GPR commercial utilisant des antennes couplées de fréquence centrale égale à 1.5 GHz. Des dalles en béton ont été conditionnées de manière à obtenir différents degrés de saturation et à répartir l'humidité de façon homogène. De plus, des mesures de résistivité électrique ont été réalisées à titre d'information complémentaire sur l'état d'humidité du béton. Des résultats intéressants ont été obtenus concernant l'aptitude de la technologie radar à la caractérisation hydrique des bétons. Dans cet article, l'accent est mis sur l'amplitude, la vitesse et le contenu fréquentiel des formes d'ondes enregistrées en laboratoire. Parmi les différents résultats obtenus, le comportement de l'onde directe émetteur-récepteur s'est révélé particulièrement influencé par l'état d'humidité du béton. Enfin, certains comportements observés en laboratoire ont pu être simulés sur la base d'un modèle simple de mélange diélectrique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory Materials and Durability of Constructions (LMDC), INSA-UPS, Toulouse, France

    S. Laurens, J. P. Balayssac, G. Klysz & G. Arliguie

  2. Research Group on NDT and Instrumentation, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada

    J. Rhazi

Authors
  1. S. Laurens
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  2. J. P. Balayssac
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  3. J. Rhazi
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  4. G. Klysz
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  5. G. Arliguie
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Additional information

Editorial note LMDC (France) is a RILEM Titular Member. Prof. Ginette Arliguie is a RILEM Senior Member. Mr. Jean-Paul Balayssac participates in RILEM TCs 189-NEC ‘Non-destructive evaluation of the ‘covercrete’ (concrete cover)’ and INR ‘Interpretation of NDT results and assessment of RC structures’.

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Laurens, S., Balayssac, J.P., Rhazi, J. et al. Non-destructive evaluation of concrete moisture by GPR: Experimental study and direct modeling. Mat. Struct. 38, 827–832 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02481655

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02481655

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