Surface-strength approach for concrete monitoring using sensors and shock-pulse method

Abstract

There are many methods used for temperature-strength control of reinforced concrete structures globally. Their majority is associated with the significant challenges of being time-consuming, costly and prone to errors. Therefore, this study investigated the potential applicability of the surface-strength approach of specimens using non-destructive testing methods to derive temperature-strength relationships as an alternative approach to the currently widely used methods. The studies were carried out by comparing the surface strength of small laboratory specimens (SS) and large specimens (LS), imitating building structures, obtained by the shock-pulse method and the strength obtained by the destructive method; and the obtained calibration dependencies were adapted to the results of specimens’ thermal control. The temperature-strength dependence was corrected by comparing the strength and temperature parameters of SS and LS. The obtained nomograms make it possible to correct changes in the temperature regime of hydration of structures curing in real climatic conditions. The final adaptation of the temperature-strength dependence to the real erected structures showed a significant potential of this method in the construction industry. The difference between the actual strength of the drilled cores and the predicted strength of concrete at 28 days was only 1.02%.