Abstract

In recent years near-field microwave nondestructive testing and evaluation techniques have shown great promise for evaluating different properties of cement-based structures. An important issue regarding the inspection of these structures is the ability to determine the presence and evaluate the content of chloride in them. Chlorides can be introduced in these structures in many different ways including when salts are present in their mixing water. Consequently, for this investigation, two sets of 8" × 8" × 8" (203mm) cubic mortar specimens were prepared each with a water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.5 and 0.6, respectively, and both sets with sand-to-cement ratios of (s/c) of 1.5. Four specimens were produced for each set with different salt (NaCl) contents added to the mixing water, producing salt-to-cement (NaCl/c) ratios of 0.0, 1, 2 and 3%, respectively. For the purpose of compressive strength measurement, cylindrical specimens of these mortar specimens were also prepared and tested for their compressive strength. Microwave reflection properties of these specimens were measured at S-band (2.6-3.95GHz) and X-band (8.2-12.4GHz), employing open-ended rectangular waveguide probes. It is shown that the magnitude of reflection coefficient is a useful parameter for detecting different chloride levels in these specimens. Moreover, the influence of chloride on the curing properties (i.e. setting time) and the compressive strength of these specimens are subsequently shown to be well correlated to the measured magnitude of reflection coefficient of these specimens at S-band. It is also shown that this correlation is unambiguous as a function of w/c which possesses significant practical ramifications.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

2.6 To 3.95 GHz; 8.2 To 12.2 GHz; 8.2-12.4 GHz; NaCl; S-Band; X-Band; Cement; Compressive Strength; Compressive Strength Measurement; Concrete; Construction Industry; Curing Properties; Cylindrical Specimens; Inspection; Microwave Measurement; Microwave Reflection; Mortar; Near-Field Microwave Nondestructive Testing; Non-Invasive Determination; Nondestructive Testing; Open-Ended Rectangular Waveguide Probes; Reflection Coefficient; Salt-to-Cement Ratios; Setting Time; Sodium Compounds; Infrastructure Testing And Cement-Based Material Evaluation; Material Characterization

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1350-2344

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2001 Institution of Engineering and Technology (IEE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 2001

Download

Full Text Link

Share

 
COinS