Improving sound-absorption properties of porous concrete materials

Abstract

Properties of porous concrete-based materials were investigated with different methods

to improve its sound absorption including: (a) changing the material composition and

thickness, (b) incorporating resonator cavities in the form of resonator tubes or

Helmholt resonators, and (c) sealing one face of homogeneous materials. Both

analytical analysis and laboratory measurements were included during investigation

using both the impedance tube and the oscillating room measurement system. The

result indicates the most propitious method to elevate sound-absorption quality of

porous concrete-based material is securing one face of the material.

RFID Tag Antenna-Based Sensing for Pervasive Surface Crack Detection

Abstract

Prasanna Kalansuriya ; Rahul Bhattacharyya ; Sanjay Sarma of Auto-ID Labs,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA, present the concept of

using an RFID tag’s antenna to sense exterior cracks. This contribution is 2 fold. First,

The design of an inductively coupled loop antenna that can be used as a crack detector

was presented. Second, the advancement of a 2-D grid of tags to enhance spatial

coverage and discuss on how it can be used to check typical crack order in civil

infrastructure was proposed. The technique works reliably over a read-distance of 1 m

and in different types of environment was demonstrated. Potential extensions of

engineering and future directions for studies are also addressed.

Peter C. Chang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Maryland, College Park,

MD 20742, USA

Alison Flatau

Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742,

USA

S. C. Liu

Recognition of the need for advanced structural health monitoring and damage

detection tools has been accompanied by increased awareness of the economic and

social effects of aging, deterioration, and extreme events on civil infrastructure. Today,

visual inspection and very traditional methods such as the lap test are used to perform

these tasks. This labor-intensive job is accomplished for bridges at a frequency of less

than once every two years and for other infrastructures such as buildings.

Detection of Surface Crack in Concrete Using Measurement Technique With

Laser Displacement Sensor

Paritosh Giri

Institute for Infrastructure Engineering, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW,

Australia

Sergey Kharkovsky
Institute for Infrastructure Engineering, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW,

Australia

Abstract:

Crack detection in concrete is a significant problem because concrete is one of the main

material used in civil infrastructure. Frequently cracks happen first on the concrete

structure under load and indicate further degradation.

This brief presents an effective non-contact technique for detecting such cracks in concr

ete using a laser displacement sensor (LDS) measuring system.The suggested scheme c

omprises of an LDS installed on the scanner. The scheme reads the displacement value 

from the sensor head to the laser spot on the specimen's target surface during the scan

ning phase. Testing with two distinct concrete samples, namely a concrete slab with a

0.7-mm-width through crack and a cylindrical concrete specimen with numerous surface

defects induced by the loading effect, is the evidence of idea. It is shown that a

distinctive crack reaction happens when the laser spot passes the crack as a sharp

distortion of displacement reading.

The negligible standard deviation demonstrates the measurement's repeatability and pr

ecision and demonstrates that this method can be implemented in a real-life situation. A 

root-mean-square deviation is used as a crack index in the displacement reading of the 

LDS.

The negligible standard deviation shows the repeatability and accuracy of the measure

ment and shows that in a real-life scenario this technique can be applied. In the

LDS displacement reading, a root-mean-square deviation is used as a crack index.
Fast crack detection method for large-size concrete surface images using

percolation-based image processing

Tomoyuki Yamaguchi, Shuji Hashimoto, Department of Applied Physics, School of

Science and EngineeringWaseda UniversityTokyoJapan

Abstract

The most significant stage in inspecting concrete constructions is the detection of crack

s on concrete surfaces. Experienced human inspectors perform conventional crack dete

ction techniques that manually sketch crack patterns; with

such techniques of detection, however, are costly and subjective. Automated crack dete

ction methods were therefore suggested that use image processing. While most image-

based methods concentrate on crack detection precision, computation time is also esse

ntial for practical applications as digital image size has risen to 10 megapixels.

We are introducing an effective and high-speed technique of crack identification using i

mage processing based on percolation. To decrease the calculation time, we suggest te

rmination- and skip-added processes. Calculating the circularity during processing termi

nates the percolation process.

In addition, percolation processing can be skipped depending on the circularity of neigh

boring pixels in subsequent pixels. The experimental outcome demonstrates that the su

ggested method lowers the cost of computing effectively.

Auto inspection system using a mobile robot for detecting concrete cracks in

a tunnel

Seung-NamYuJae-HoJangChang-SooHan

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

heir naked eye in order to assess the safety of concrete structures. Manual inspection, h

owever, is slow and produces subjective results.

This research therefore proposes a scheme for the inspection and measurement of crac

ks in concrete constructions to provide objective crack information to be used in safety 

assessment. The system is a mobile robot system and a system for crack detection.

The mobile robot system is operated with a Charged Couple Device (CCD) camera to ke

ep a steady distance from walls while obtaining picture information. Using image proces

sing, the crack detection scheme obtained crack data from the picture obtained.

The geometric characteristics and crack patterns in a structure were introduced to the i

mage processing routine to guarantee precise recognition of crack. With laboratory and 

field studies, the suggested scheme was confirmed.

Microwave near-field nondestructive detection and characterization of

disbonds in concrete structures using fuzzy logic techniques

Author links open overlay panelAwsKhanfarMohammedAbu-KhousaNasserQaddoumi

Electrical Engineering Program, Microwave Imaging and Nondestructive

Evaluation Laboratory (MINEL), School of Engineering, American University of

Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Absract

The study introduces a near-field microwave non-destructive testing method for the ide

ntification and assessment of disbond / crack in a concrete structure supported by an in

finite half of any material.
A model will be used to describe the interaction of waves radiated in the near-field from 

an open-ended rectangular wave guide with any layered medium.

The theoretical model estimates the structure's efficient reflective coefficient at the wav

e guide opening as a function of the operating frequency, the thickness and dielectric pr

operties of the system layers, such as the standoff range.

To achieve maximum sensitivity to the disbond presence, it is feasible to optimize the w

orking frequency and standoff distance (measurement parameters).

The presence of a disbond in a structure

is seen as an additional layer and will change the characteristics of the effective coeffici

ent of reflection (phase and magnitude). This shift depends on the disbond's density an

d place.

This fact will be used to explore the ability to use various frequency readings to acquire 

data on the place of disbond and thickness.

A fuzzy logic model was generated and used relating the reflective coefficient phase, op

erating frequency, and standoff distance to the thickness and depth of the disbond.

Use of Microwaves for Damage Detection of Fiber Reinforced Polymer-

Wrapped Concrete Structures

Maria Q. Feng, A.M.ASCE; Franco De Flaviis; and Yoo Jin Kim

For seismic retrofitting and rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns intended 

and built under older requirements, Jacketing Technology using Fiber Reinforced Polym

er (FRP) composites is used.
In this research, the writers developed an electromagnetic (EM) imaging technology to 

detect such harm as voids and debonding between the vest and the column, which coul

d considerably weaken the column's otherwise achievable structural performance throu

gh jacketing.

This technique is based on the assessment of the reflection of a constant EM wave sent 

and reflected from the layered FRP – adhesive concrete medium:

Voids and debonding regions will create air gaps that will generate extra EM wave reflec

tions. In this research, a plane-wave reflectometer was first used to measure the dielect

ric properties of multiple components engaged in the FRP-jacketed RC column.

The measured characteristics were then used in the suggested EM imaging technology f

or a computer simulation.

The simulation showed the trouble of identifying harm using plane waves, as the contri

bution of reflection from the voids and debonding is very low compared to the contribut

ion from the jacketed column. The dielectric lenses were designed and manufactured to

alleviate this difficulty, focusing the EM wave on the bonding interface. Finally, three

concrete columns were built and wrapped artificially in the bonding interface with

glass–FRP coats with different voids and debonding circumstances.

These voids and debonding regions were effectively identified using the suggested EM i

maging technology that included the specially designed and correctly mounted lenses.

This technology can be used during the original assembly phase to evaluate the quality 

of the jacket bonding and to identify debonding between the column and the jacket ind

uced by earthquake and other damaging loads.