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Tests on marine, offshore and highway structures

There are various tests that may be carried out on marine, offshore and highway structures. The selection of the most appropriate tests will depend on the particular structure being considered, the nature of the inspection and the reasons for carried it out. Details of the various tests shown in bold are given under separate headings.

Common tests include determining the reinforcement depth, carbonation depth, half-cell potential, chloride profiles and concrete resistivity. Cores are taken to determine the strength of the concrete and the cement content.

Less common tests include near-surface strength tests, rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Extracted samples will be used for laboratory testing to determine chloride diffusion and for petrographic tests (see separate entry and Concrete Society Technical Report 71, Concrete petrography: An introductory guide for the non-specialist).

Infrequently tests for porosity, gas and water diffusion, initial surface absorption, thermography, radar and gamma radiography may be used.

(Note that tests on buried structures and ones not subjected to salt are considered separately.)

Acknowledgement: The Concrete Society

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TR54 Diagnosis of deterioration in concrete structures- identification of defects, evaluation an

TR71 Concrete petrography

TG2 Guide to testing and monitoring the durability of concrete structures