THE USE OF MULTIPLE COMBINED NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING IN THE CONCRETE STRENGHT ASSESSENT : APPLICATIONS ON LABORATORY SPECIMENS
In this paper a series of non-destructive tests has been performed with the purpose to investigate on the mechanical properties of the concrete employed in the civil buildings. A series of specimens were prepared in order to correlate the “in situ” concrete strengths obtained by multiple combinated non-destructive methods with the cubical and cylindrical strength obtained by destructive methods. The multiple combined methods (SonReb Methods + Windsor Probe Tests) were used to quality control and strength estimation of the concrete. In particular, a series of specimens by aggregates having various Mohs’Hardness (inert of fluvial origin) and by aggregate with only a class of Mohs’Hardness (crushed aggregate) has been prepared. During the concrete casting a series of cubical specimens has been prepared. The comparison among non-destructive tests, cubical strength and cores strength are carried out.
Post-installed screws for in-situ assessment of mortar strength
: For capacity evaluation, the structural assessment of existing structures is necessary. Concrete strength is an important parameter for such assessment. Non-destructive tests (NDTs) are used along with the traditional approach of core testing for strength assessment of concrete in existing structures. The low reliability of NDT results leads to uncertainty in assessing concrete strength. A new method of non-destructive testing is presented in this paper with the aim of achieving better reliability and reducing uncertainty in the assessment of mortar strength. This approach is based on a modified pullout of post-installed screw anchors. The technique involves a pushin mechanism for a steel screw inside the mortar where a void underneath the screw is left to allow for the uninterrupted movement of the screw inside the concrete. The failure pattern involves local crushing of concrete between the threads of the screw. This paper investigates the load bearing behaviour of threaded screws installed in cement mortar under compressive loading. The results supports the application of the technique in the assessment of compressive strength of mortar. The main parameters affecting the pushin behaviour are presented and their effects are discussed. It is planned to extend the test program to concrete in the future.
Physical Ageing of the Research Reactor Core Structural Materials Due to Neutron Irradiation Exposure: a Review
A research reactor (RR) is a  nuclear reactor that has function to generate and utilize neutron flux and radiation ionization for  research purposes and industrial applications. More than 60% of current operating RRs have  been operated for 30 years or more. As the time passes, the functional capabilities of structures,  systems and components (SSCs) of those RRs deteriorate by physical ageing, which can be  caused by neutron irradiation exposure such as irradiation induced dislocation and  microstructural changes. To extend the lifetime and/or to avoid unplanned outages, ageing on  the safety related SSCs of RRs need to be properly managed. An ageing management is a  strategy to engineer, operate, maintenance, and control SSC degradation within acceptable limits. The purpose of this study is to review physical ageing of the core structural materials of  the RRs caused by neutron irradiation exposure. In order to achieve this objective, a wide range  of literatures are reviewed. Comprehensive discussions on irradiation behaviors are limited only  on reactor vessel and core support structure materials made from zirconium and beryllium as  well as their alloys, which are widely used in RRs. It is found that the stability of the mechanical  properties of zirconium and beryllium as well as their alloys was mostly affected by the neutron  fluences and temperatures.