Use of Non-Destructive Ultrasonic Pulse Testing Methods in Evaluation of Brick Parameters

Currently, building industry uses non-destructive testing methods primarily for evaluation of concrete quality. Efficiency of ultrasonic pulse method (UPM) was proved in order to determine compressive strength of solid bricks (concrete, calcium silicate and burnt ones). Parameters obtained from UPM testing (such as ultrasonic pulse velocity, dynamic modulus of elasticity) are affected by shape/dimension of bricks, their components, and porosity and imperfections of their structure. These factors are variously manifested in test results and calibration correlations elaborated in order to determine compressive strength based on nondestructive testing parameter. In practice, the ultrasonic pulse testing method is utilizable for determination of compressive strength in concrete and lime-sand bricks; calibration correlations feature high consistence between variables (correlation coefficient lies between 0.936 and 0.966). However, above stated factors are subject to accurately defined testing conditions in order to provide reproducibility of test results.