News
This news section is updated every third month.
Latest revision is of October 7th 2008.
1. New AVA system
The new AVA-3000 is
featuring:
·
Latest
microprocessor technology
·
Only
one USB cord connection
·
Mini
balance that can stand rough treatments
·
Elimination
the influence of external vibration and wind
·
Improved
stirrer operation
·
Incorporates
a 35-L temperature water bath tank for automated de-aerating and tempering of
the water and the AVA release liquid
·
In
addition to calculation of the spacing factor and the specific surface for
chord length < 2mm (as in the
AVA-2000), the AVA-3000 calculates the air-void parameters for cord length <1mm,
as required by the ASTM C 457-06 standard
The system can be studied in the download section “AVA-3000”
2. New low-cost,
portable Rheometer for concrete
The new ICAR Rheometer
features:
·
Portable
and lightweight
·
Rugged
and robust
·
Low-cost
and versatile
·
Fast
and accurate
·
Automated
and simple to use
·
Improved
description of workability
·
Accelerated
use of new and cheaper high-performance concrete
More ICAR Rheometer information can be found in the download section “ICAR
Rheometer”.
3. Introducing the
new generation of shear wave instruments
Three instruments using ultrasound shear waves are now available:
3.1 SURFER for surface wave
speed and depth of surface opening cracks
3.2 EyeCon for flaw detection
and thickness measurements requiring only one-side access to the structure. Dry
contact to the surface, providing 1D and 2D mapping with possibility of 3D
images.
3.3 MIRA allowing 3-D tomography of internal defects in colors. Detection
of all the classical defects in concrete structures by one-sided access, including
air in injected cable ducts. B-, C- and D-Scans are available as well as
imaging of layers in the 3D presentation. The MIRA features also wireless
connection to the laptop.
The brochure can be downloaded from the Download sections “SURFER, EyeCon
and MIRA Shear Wave Instruments”.
4. Impulse Response
with the s'MASH
The s´MASH is for rapid screening of flaws in structures and for pile
testing. The parameters tested in structures are the dynamic stiffness and the
dynamic mobility of the structure. Color plotting of these two parameters
reveal anomalies readily available after the testing has been completed. Areas
with anomalies are subsequently scrutinized by e.g. the DOCter Impact-Echo Test
and/or by extracting a limited number of cores.
Typical applications, as illustrated in the CASE section, are testing
for debonding of overlays, voids below slabs, poor consolidation, extent of
deterioration from e.g. freeze-thaw, ASR, reinforcement corrosion and fire
damage, fastening/anchoring quality of claddings, panels or exterior walls,
loss of stress transfer, poor supports, curling of plates and integrity of
repairs.
4.1 Slide show of the s´MASH
The presentation used in the one-day course on the s´MASH can be
downloaded from the DOWNLOAD section. The slide show outlines the applications,
the method, the fundamentals and basics in structure testing, the parameters
measured, examples of test output and testing examples.
4.2 New integrated s´MASH and DOCter test system
Germann Instruments has finished the development of an integrated system
allowing quick flaw screening to be performed of a structure with the s´MASH
Impulse Response System followed up by detailed analysis in areas showing
anomalies with the DOCter Impact-Echo Test System. The computer used with
attached amplifier unit and PCMCIA card allows both software to be utilized. Additionally
is required for the s´MASH Impulse Response Test the instrumented impulse
hammer and the geophone, and for the DOCter Impact-Echo Test the Longship
transducer unit and the Star Support with attached impactors.
4.3 Latest practical experience with the s´MASH
Papers illustrating the benefits and practicality of the system are
available from the DOWNLOAD section. In the latest paper, "Rapid
Non-Destructive Test Method at the Taiwan High-Speed Rail Project" by Dr.
Allen G.Davis of the CTL Laboratories in Chicago, the s´MASH Impulse Response
Test System is illustrated for locating and quantifying deficiencies in
post-tensioned box girder concrete such as poor compaction and delamination, as
well as loss of post-tensioning caused by patching of partial exposures after
post-tensioning and formwork stripping.
4.4 Impulse Response explained theoretically
The paper by N.S.Ottosen, M.Ristinmaa and A.G.Davis: "Theoretical
interpretation of Impulse response tests of embedded concrete structures",
Div. of Solid Mechanics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, has been accepted for
publication by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The paper explain by means of analytical modeling typical impulse
response field tests stemming from a void and a honeycomb.
5. Impact-Echo with
the DOCter
5.1 New Viking software for the DOCter Impact-Echo Testing
The impact-echo software has been upgraded to version 6.0 accommodating
the new 2-channel PCMCIA card used for the testing. This card is also used for
the s´MASH Impulse Response Test.
5.2 Testing examples
Presented at the conferences Structural Faults + Repair -2003 in
are now available. The presentations can be
downloaded from the DOWNLOAD section or obtained from Germann Instruments upon
request.
6. Air Void Analysis
of fresh concrete by the AVA
The AVA allows the concrete practitioner to measure the air void spacing
factor and specific surface of the fresh concrete in about half an hour,
providing timely information of these important parameters for evaluation of
the freeze-thaw durability of the concrete.
6.1 New excellent video on the AVA
This video named "Real Air Testing in Real Time" produced by
the U.S. Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) describes the relationship
between durability and the spacing of air voids, it shows an AVA testing
example from paving, the detailed operation of the AVA and outlines the
benefits of the AVA compared to the traditional methods for measuring the total
air content of fresh concrete as well as the ASTM C 457 linear traverse method
for the air void structure on hardened concrete.
The video can be obtained from Germann Instruments upon request.
6.2 The FHWA experience with the AVA
The paper "A "Fresh" Perspective on Measuring Air in
Concrete" discusses Federal Highway Administration´s (FHWA) recent
experience with the AVA. FHWA has employed the use of the AVA on numerous
bridge and pavement projects throughout the
6.3 Presentation of the AVA by the AASHTO TIG (American Association of
This very comprehensive presentation of the AVA can be downloaded from
the DOWNLOAD section. Further information can be found on www.aashtotig.org
The presentation discuss
why the entrained air in concrete should be measured, why a specific
distribution of the air voids is needed, freeze/thaw damages experienced in the
U.S., the necessary and sufficient conditions for obtaining such freeze/thaw
damages, durability related to the spacing factor, methodologies for testing,
purpose of the AVA, current U.S. practice, U.S. experience with the AVA,
recommendations, how to improve the spacing factor, AVA advantages and limitations,
benefits and the costs involved.
7. Timing of early loading operation with the LOK-TEST
The LOK-TEST is gaining
acceptance as a reliable means of measuring the compressive strength of early
age concrete, not only in North America, but also in Europe, especially in the
7.1 LOK-TEST
presentation
A power point presentation
of the LOK-TEST has recently been made available. The presentation can be
downloaded from the DOWNLOAD section or obtained from Germann Instruments.
7.1 New publications on
LOK-TEST
Three new publications
dealing with LOK-TEST are now available from the
8. Corrosion investigation with the GalvaPulse
8.1 Recent modifications
of the GalvaPulse
The GalvaPulse for
corrosion rate, half-cell potentials and electrical resistance has recently
been modified to be able to operate in one of two modes
the purpose
being to minimize the time of testing in large testing jobs.
In the first mode each
measurement can be made as fast as the physical movement allows. In the second
mode the corrosion rate measurement last 5-10 seconds.
In this manner the
GalvaPulse can be applied quickly in large jobs in the first mode for a general
overview of the corrosion condition, followed up by detailed analysis in
hot-spot areas, where the corrosion rate is needed.
Furthermore, the GalvaPulse
hand-held computer has been supplied with a FLASH card that allows
reinstallation of the software should it be lost due to simultaneous removal of
the main batteries and the back-up battery.
8.2 New information on
the GalvaPulse
In addition to the earlier
publications on the GalvaPulse listed in the DOWNLOAD section, the following
paper is now also available:
"Pro´s and Con´s of
half-cell potentials and corrosion rate measurements" by T.Frolund,
O.Klinghofer and H.E.Sorensen, Force Technology,
The paper can be downloaded
from the DOWNLOAD section.
Latest revison October 7th, 2008
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