Monitoring general corrosion of rebar embedded in mortar using high-frequency guided mechanical waves

Benjamin L. Ervin; Jennifer T. Bernhard; Daniel A. Kuchma; Henrique Reis

doi:10.1117/12.714180

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10 April 2007 Monitoring general corrosion of rebar embedded in mortar using high-frequency guided mechanical waves

Benjamin L. Ervin, Jennifer T. Bernhard, Daniel A. Kuchma, Henrique Reis

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Proceedings Volume 6529, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2007; 65291B (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.714180
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

High-frequency guided mechanical waves were used to ultrasonically monitor reinforced mortar specimens undergoing accelerated general corrosion damage. Waves were invoked, using both single-cycle and high-cycle tonebursts, at frequencies where the attenuation is at a local minimum. Results show that the high-frequency waves were sensitive to irregularities in the reinforcing rebar profile caused by corrosion. The sensitivity is thought to be due to scattering, reflections, and mode conversion at the irregularities. Certain frequencies show promise for being insensitive to the surrounding mortar, ingress of water, presence of additional rebar, stirrups, and rust product accumulation. This lack of sensitivity allows for changes in guided wave behavior from bar profile deterioration to be isolated from the effects of other surrounding interfaces.

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Benjamin L. Ervin, Jennifer T. Bernhard, Daniel A. Kuchma, and Henrique Reis "Monitoring general corrosion of rebar embedded in mortar using high-frequency guided mechanical waves", Proc. SPIE 6529, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2007, 65291B (10 April 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.714180

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