A “Non-Invasive” Technique for Qualifying the Reinforced Concrete Structure

Abstract

In recent years, a lot of studies on built heritage emphasize the need to use appropriate techniques to evaluate the current condition of the structure before designing an intervention. The research focuses on the restoration of reinforced concrete buildings that begin to show signs of decay and deterioration. To verify the state of a building, it’s possible to use the “destructive” methods (that require a local removal of material) and “nondestructive” tests. The combined results from different “nondestructive” tests are very interesting instruments to assess the concrete strength. This methodological approach can help to reduce the possible errors when using the sclerometer and ultrasonic tests separately; in this way, the combined method called “SonReb” (SONic + REBound) was developed. This paper would highlight the importance with respect to cultural heritage buildings and on the studied structure and contribute to developed engineering strategies to maintenance and restoration. The above-defined methodology has been tested on a postwar building which is located in Gravina in Puglia (Italy): the “Centrone” theatre; it was built using a mixed structure, that is, reinforced concrete and bearing masonry built of local stone. The building was used until the 1990s and now is abandoned. The analysis and qualification of the masonry structures of built heritage show how this approach is useful for classifying the pathological events on each building and to implement the innovative solutions to improve the durability of a restoration intervention.

Reliable non-destructive strength assessment in existing structures: myth or reality?

“…Few words must be told about the possible combination of several NDT which could lead to a more reliable strength estimate. This idea was promoted by former RILEM recommendations [9] but results of experimental studies are controversial [16][17] and how combination can bring a real added-value needs to be better understood.…”

Improving the Reliability of On-site Concrete Strength Estimation with Non-destructive Techniques

“…the fact that, in most cases, the final assessment of concrete properties remains limited to an estimate of a strength value (which can be a mean strength or a local strength) but that nothing is known about the uncertainty interval of this estimate, the need for a consistent approach, covering all steps of the assessment, from the data collection to the strength assessment, the possibility of addressing additional issues, such as estimating concrete variability which plays a major role in safety analyses of existing structures, the need to provide recommendations regarding a controversial issue: the possibility of combining several non-destructive techniques to obtain a more reliable assessment. This idea has been promoted by RILEM twenty-five years ago [15], but there is still a debate about the added value it can bring or not [16][17].…”

Prevention, monitoring and conservation for a smart management of the cultural heritage

“…The importance of taking such an approach stems from the need to consider a recovery project not simply as the sum of individual skills from different sectors, but as a truly interdisciplinary exchange. Various specialists working in synergy can help promote a better understanding of the multiple problems encountered during the recovery and, at the same time, help identify and evaluate the suitability of the solutions proposed [1].…”