Ultrasonic pulse velocity test
Ultrasonic pulse velocity method is an non-destructive test which is used to determine the compressive strength of concrete structure without any damage. This method consists of measuring the time of travel of and ultrasonic pulse passing through the concrete to be tested. In this method, A pulse generator circuit is used which consists of electronic circuit and transducer. Electronic circuit generates pulses and transducer transforms it into mechanical energy having vibration frequencies in the range of 15 to 50 kHz. The time of travel between initial onset and the reception of the pulse is measured electronically. The path length between transducer divided by the time of travel gives the average velocity of wave propagation. When mechanical impulses are applied to a solid mass, three different kinds of waves are generated - longitudinal wave, shear wave and surface wave. The longitudinal waves travel about twice as fast as the other two types. The shear waves are not so fast, the