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IBRACON Structures and Materials Journal • 2012 • vol. 5 • nº 5
R. R. F. SANTOS | D. R. C. OLIVEIRA
due to usage and dirt. Other support devices are under similar
conditions to the support device of the abutment E1, but still suit-
able for use.
2. Concrete characterization
2.1 Non-destructive tests
Non-destructive tests (NDT) include various methods of analysis
of materials, components and connections in order to identify and
quantify internal defects and degradations. The NDT main goal is
to enable evaluation of the materials properties before any failure
occurs, basing such evaluation on recognized criteria for accep-
tance or degradation profiles defined over years of experience,
so that the quality and performance of these materials in service
are ensured. This has generated a growing interest in developing
methods for non-destructive testing for concrete structures evalu-
ation, according to Mehta [4].
The pacometry test was performed before the sclerometry tests to
determine the position of steel bars for both the sclerometry tests
and for instrumentation of the reinforcements with strain gages
(EER). In this investigation a pacometer was used and its operating
principle is electromagnetic, to determine the presence and direc-
tion of the bars, as well as to determine the thickness of the con-
crete coatings in relation to the external surface of the bars. Figure
9 shows the pacometry testing on caisson T7 and, in Figure 10, on
a stringer. The spacing between bars varied from 0.05 m to 0.11 m.
Pacometry tests were also carried out on the deck slab for steel bars
detection to avoid damage during the testimony extractions.
The sclerometry tests were performed on all structural elements
of the bridge. This method basically consists in evaluating the su-
perficial hardness of the hardened concrete using a device which
measures the energy of impact on the reflection surface. The
method known as “rebound hammer method” provides an index
(denominated sclerometric index) having direct correlation with
the compressive strength of concrete. However, there are several
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