Using an Impact Device with Sliding Drop Collar for In Situ Evaluation of Compressive Strength of Insulating Cellular Concrete

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes the efforts of the Central Building Laboratory of the Standards Institute of Israel to develop a relatively simple method for in situ nondestructive evaluation of the compressive strength of lightweight cellular concrete used for thermal insulation of roofs. The idea of the developed impact device with sliding drop collar is similar in principal to the well-known soil test method of drop-weight penetration, ordinarily used for field determination of compacted soil density. Test results show that the depth of penetration is influenced by two main parameters: compressive strength of the concrete and its density. If the unit weight of the cellular concrete is known or predetermined, its compressive strength can be estimated by means of the impact device with a sufficient degree of accuracy. Thus the drop-collar penetrometer may find useful application in in situ quality control of lightweight cellular insulating concretes.