The non-destructive assessment of cracks in concrete is a common task for which non-destructive evaluation solutions have been published. Primarily, these tests have been carried out on artificial cracks that have been created by using notches instead of natural cracks. This study evaluates a procedure designed to create reproducible and controlled cracks in concrete. The procedure is based on using expanding mortar in a series of blind holes. This is done in combination with carefully aligned reinforcement to guide the direction of the crack development. The depth of the crack is also controlled by reinforcement. Crack depth varies statistically in the range of the maximum aggregate size (16 mm) used for concrete.
Decades of nondestructive evaluation for the quality assurance of concrete bridges revealed the necessity of developing procedures to build reference specimens for different defects. External objects have been widely used in specimen construction to represent defects. However, embedded materials vary the actual defect characteristics, interrupting the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) responses. This study proposes new approaches to fabricating reference specimens for reinforced concrete that feature substantial defects, including cracks, delamination, honeycombing, and rebar corrosion, without external objects. As a result, realistic responses can be acquired to identify promising NDE methods for characterizing actual deteriorations. The procedures were produced with the intent of being reproducible in any laboratory. Destructive and nondestructive testing methods were performed to verify the effectiveness of the processes in creating defects. This study provides research laboratories with techniques for fabricating reference specimens to characterize defects and assess the performance of NDE technologies
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