Title: Failure Monitoring of Concrete Specimen Using Frequency Characteristics of Ultrasonic Waves

Author(s): S. Drabkin and D. S. Kim

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 143

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 257-274

Keywords: compression; concretes; failure; masonry; microcracking; modulus of elasticity; mortars (material); nondestructive tests; resonant frequency; spectroscopic analysis; stress-strain relationship; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/4321

Date: 5/1/1994

Abstract:
Mortar and concrete samples were subjected to uniaxial compression to determine whether it is possible to distinguish two states of a sample: prior to the subjection to ultimate load, and subsequent to loading but prior to the appearance of visible surface cracks. Stress-strain characteristics, Young's moduli, and frequency characteristics of ultrasonic waves propagating through the samples were studied for each specimen. The qualitative analysis of frequencies and amplitudes of the peaks in resonant P-wave spectra allow the determination of undamaged specimens. The spectral analysis of continuous ultrasonic waves allows the possibility of discovering the specimen damaged by ultimate stress but visually intact.