A Non-Destructive Impedance Method Using Resonance to Evaluate the Concentration of Steel Fibers in Concrete

Abstract

Steel-fiber reinforced concrete is a composite material characterized by outstanding tensile properties and resistance to cracking. The concrete, however, exhibits such characteristics only on the condition that the steel fibers in the final, hardened composite are distributed evenly. Current methods to evaluate the distribution and concentration in a fiber composite are either destructive or exhibit a limited capability of evaluating the concentration and orientation of the fibers. In this context, the paper discusses auxiliary techniques and laboratory tests that evaluate the density and orientation of the fibers in a composite material, presenting an innovative approach to impedance-based non-destructive testing. The actual methodology utilizes the resonance of the measuring device and the measured sample set; the desired state occurs within the interval of f = 10 kHz and 2 GHz.Steel-fiber reinforced concrete is a composite material characterized by outstanding tensile properties and resistance to cracking. The concrete, however, exhibits such characteristics only on the condition that the steel fibers in the final, hardened composite are distributed evenly. Current methods to evaluate the distribution and concentration in a fiber composite are either destructive or exhibit a limited capability of evaluating the concentration and orientation of the fibers. In this context, the paper discusses auxiliary techniques and laboratory tests that evaluate the density and orientation of the fibers in a composite material, presenting an innovative approach to impedance-based non-destructive testing. The actual methodology utilizes the resonance of the measuring device and the measured sample set; the desired state occurs within the interval of f = 10 kHz and 2 GHz.