UNIVERSITY OF GAZIANTEP

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL DEPARTMENT

CE-550
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND
EVALUATION
IN STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Report About :
(Using of Schmidt Hammer as anon destructive test
method
in structural engineering)

Submitted to:

Do.Dr.ESSRA GUNAYISI
Prepared by:

Chalak Ahmed Mohammed

[email protected]

2014 45056

Date : feb. 2015

INTRODUCTION
Importance and need of non-destructive testing
It is often necessary to test concrete structures after the concrete has
hardened to determine whether the structure is suitable for its designed
use. Ideally such testing should be done without damaging the concrete.
The tests available for testing concrete range from the completely nondestructive, where there is no damage to the concrete, through those
where the concrete surface is slightly damaged, to partially destructive
tests, such as core tests and pullout and pull off tests, where the surface
has to be repaired after the test. The range of properties that can be
assessed using non-destructive tests and partially destructive tests is
quite large and includes such fundamental parameters as density, elastic
modulus and strength as well as surface hardness and surface
absorption, and reinforcement location, size and distance from the
surface. In some cases it is also possible to check the quality of
workmanship and structural integrity by the ability to detect voids,
cracking and delaminating.
Non-destructive testing can be applied to both old and new
structures. For new structures, the principal applications are likely to be
for quality control or the resolution of doubts about the quality of
materials or construction. The testing of existing structures is usually
related to an assessment of structural integrity or adequacy. In either case,
if destructive testing alone is used, for instance, by removing cores for
compression testing, the cost of coring and testing may only allow a
relatively small number of tests to be carried out on a large structure
which may be misleading. Non-destructive testing can be used in those
situations as a preliminary to subsequent coring.

 Situations where NDT is an option to consider for investigation of

in situ concrete

to investigate the homogeneity of concrete mixing

lack of grout in post tensioning ducts
to determine the density and strength of concrete in a structure
to determine the location of reinforcing bars and the cover over the
bars
to determine the number and size/diameter of reinforcing bars
to determine the extent of defects such as corrosion
to determine the location of in-built wiring, piping, ducting, etc.

to determine if there is a bond between epoxy bonded steel plates

and concrete members

to determine whether internal

defects such as voids,cracks,
delaminations, honeycombing, lack of bonding with reinforcing
bars, etc. exist in concrete

SCHMIDT REBOUND HAMMER TEST

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE
The Schmidt rebound hammer is principally a surface hardness
tester. It works on the principle that the rebound of an elastic mass
depends on the hardness of the surface against which the mass impinges.
There is little apparent theoretical relationship between the strength of
concrete and the rebound number of the hammer. However, within limits,
empirical correlations have been established between strength properties
and the rebound number. Further, Kolek has attempted to establish a
correlation between the hammer rebound number and the hardness as
measured by the Brinell method.
EQUIPMENT FOR SCHMIDT/REBOUND HAMMER TEST
The Schmidt rebound hammer is shown in (Fig. 1). The hammer
weighs about 1.8 kg and is suitable for use both in a laboratory and in the
field. A schematic cutaway view of the rebound hammer is shown in
( Fig. 2). The main components include the outer body, the plunger, the
hammer mass, and the main spring. Other features include a latching
mechanism that locks the hammer mass to the plunger rod and a sliding
rider to measure the rebound of the hammer mass. The rebound distance
is measured on an arbitrary scale marked from 10 to100. The rebound
distance is recorded as a rebound number corresponding to the position
of the rider on the scale.

fig.1

1. Concrete surface

5. Hammer guide

9. Housing

2. Impact spring

6. Release catch

10. Hammer mass

3. Rider on guide rod

7. Compressive spring

4. Window and scale

8. Locking button

11. Plunger

Fig. 2 Components of a Rebound Hammer

APPLICATIONS OF SCHMIDT REBOUND HAMMER TEST

The hammer can be used in the horizontal, vertically overhead or
vertically downward positions as well as at any intermediate angle,
provided the hammer is perpendicular to the surface under test. The
position of the mass relative to the vertical, however, affects the
rebound number due to the action of gravity on the mass in the hammer.
Thus the rebound number of a floor would be expected to be smaller
than that of a soffit and inclined and vertical surfaces would yield
intermediate results. Although a high rebound number represents concrete
with a higher compressive strength than concrete with a low rebound
number, the test is only useful if a correlation can be developed between
the rebound number and concrete made with the same coarse aggregate
as that being tested. Too much reliance should not be placed on the
5

calibration curve supplied with the hammer since the manufacturer

develops this curve using standard cube specimens and the mix used
could be very different from the one being tested.
A typical correlation procedure is, as follows:
(1) Prepare a number of 150 mm 300 mm cylinders (or 150 mm3
cube specimens) covering the strength range to be encountered on
the job site. Use the same cement and aggregates as are to be used on
the job. Cure the cylinders under standard moist-curing room
conditions, keeping the curing period the same as the specified
control age in the field.
(2) After capping, place the cylinders in a compression-testing machine
under an initial load of approximately 15% of the ultimate load to
restrain the specimen. Ensure that cylinders are in a saturated
surface-dry condition.
(3) Make 15 hammer rebound readings, 5 on each of 3 vertical lines 120
apart, against the side surface in the middle two thirds of each
cylinder. Avoid testing the same spot twice. For cubes, take 5
readings on each of the 4 molded faces without testing the same spot
twice.
(4) Average the readings and call this the rebound number for the
cylinder under test. Repeat this procedure for all the cylinders.
(5) Test the cylinders to failure in compression and plot the rebound
numbers against the compressive strengths on a graph.
(6) Fit a curve or a line by the method of least squares.
A typical curve established by Zoldners for limestone aggregate
concrete is shown in Fig..3. This curve was based on tests performed
during 28 days using different concrete mixtures.

Fig.3

TEST METHODOLOGY:

For taking a measurement, the hammer should be held at right

angles to the surface of the structure. The test thus can be conducted
horizontally on vertical surfaces and vertically upwards or downwards
on horizontal surfaces, as shown below:

6
3

6
4

RANGE AND LIMITATIONS OF SCHMIDT REBOUND

HAMMER TEST
Although the rebound hammer does provide a quick,
inexpensive method of checking the uniformity of concrete, it has
some serious limitations. The results are affected by:
1.Smoothness of the test surface
Hammer has to be used against a smooth surface, preferably a
formed one. Open textured concrete cannot therefore be tested. If the
surface is rough, e.g. a trowelled surface, it should be rubbed smooth
with a carborundum stone.

FIG. 4. Correlation curves produced by different researchers. (Greene curve used Type N hammer;
others used Type N-

6
5

2.Size, shape and rigidity of the specimen

If the concrete does not form part of a large mass any movement
caused by the impact of the hammer will result in a reduction in the
rebound number. In such cases the member has to be rigidly held or
backed up by a heavy mass.
3.Age of the specimen
For equal strengths, higher rebound numbers are obtained with a 7
day old concrete than with a 28 day old. Therefore, when old concrete
is to be tested in a structure a direct correlation is necessary between
the rebound numbers and compressive strengths of cores taken from
the structure. Rebound testing should not be carried out on low
strength concrete at early ages or when the concrete strength is less
than 7 MPa since the concrete surface could be damaged by the
hammer.
4.Surface and internal moisture conditions of concrete
The rebound numbers are lower for well-cured air dried
specimens than for the same specimens tested after being soaked in
water and tested in the saturated surface dried conditions. Therefore,
whenever the actual moisture condition of the field concrete or
specimen is unknown, the surface should be pre-saturated for several
hours before testing. A correlation curve for tests performed on
saturated surface dried specimens should then be used to estimate the
compressive strength.
5.Type of coarse aggregate
Even though the same aggregate type is used in the concrete mix,
the correlation curves can be different if the source of the aggregate
is different. An example is shown in Fig. 4.5 where correlation

curves for four different sources of gravel are plotted.

Fig. 5 shows the considerable difference that can occur between
correlation curves developed for different aggregat

e types.
FIG. 5. Effect of gravel from different sources on correlation curves.

FIG. 6. Comparison between correlation curves for crushed limestone and siliceous

6.Type of cement
High alumina cement can have a compressive strength 100%
higher than the strength estimated using a correlation curve based
on ordinary Portland cement. Also, super sulphated cement
concrete can have strength 50% lower than ordinary Portland
cement.
7.Carbonation of the concrete surface

In older concrete the carbonation depth can be several

millimeters thick and, in extreme cases, up to 20 mm thick. In
such cases the rebound numbers can be up to 50% higher than
those obtained on an uncarbonated concrete surface.

If concrete compression test fails, should Schmidt

hammer test be adopted as an alternative test to
prove the concrete strength?
The Scmidt hammer test is based on the elastic rebound of
hammer which presses on concrete surface and it measures
the surface hardness of concrete. Since the test is very
sensitive to the presence of aggregates and voids at the
concrete surface, it is necessary to take more than 10
readings over the area of test. However, it should be noted
that Schmidt hammer test measures surface hardness only
but not the strength of concrete. Therefore, it may not be
considered a good substitute

Regards...