Development of Ultrasonic Imaging System for under-water inspection of Non-homogeneous Concrete Structures

NDT of non-homogeneous structures such as concrete/RCC, is carried out using under-water ultrasonic technique in Transmit-Receive mode, for modern under-water structures. Ultrasonic Testing enables to detect anomalies inside such structures, which can hamper the strength and reduce the remaining life. Conventionally, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) method is utilised to inspect any concrete structure. It has been proposed that ultrasonic imaging method is suitable to assess the concrete structure based-on the change in TOF and wave pattern in the B-Scan image, at the location of the defect. A concrete block with simulated defects has been inspected, using A-scan 1-D data and 2-D B-Scan image mode, acquired with the help of ultrasonic imaging system developed by ED, BARC. It is concluded that there is a distinct change in the TOF, at the location of defects and also in the B-Scan image pattern, for the concrete blocks, submerged in water.