Two complementary techniques to see inside concrete: GPR for reinforcement, ultrasound for cracks and internal defects.
High-frequency GPR sweeps the surface of the structure and produces a 3D image: position and depth of the reinforcement and prestressing tendons, slab thickness, voids and likely corrosion zones.
Ultrasonic tomography sends sound waves into the concrete using dry-contact sensors and reconstructs a 3D image of the interior. It finds what GPR sees poorly: internal cracks, delaminations (separation between layers) and honeycombing.
The two images cross-check and complement each other. The structure is neither drilled nor damaged.
For hard-to-reach areas (tall piers, vertical walls, areas above water), the sensors can be carried by a climbing robot, which avoids scaffolding and access platforms.
Position and depth of the reinforcement, mapped over the whole scanned surface, with cover thickness.
Location of voids, delaminations and cracks, with their extent at the surface and in depth.
Interpretation report, sections and 3D views of the inside of the structure, to support the repair decision.
Reference practice: ACI 228.2R, EN 12504-4, ASTM C597.
Six-antenna GPR array designed for fast concrete scanning.
It scans a large area quickly and in 3D, with high resolution on reinforcement and prestressing tendons. It suits slabs, bridge decks and floors.
Ultrasonic device with 32 dry-contact sensors, producing a 3D image of the inside of the concrete.
Where GPR is limited (very dense reinforcement, non-metallic defects such as cracks and delaminations), ultrasound takes over. Dry-contact sensors avoid the use of coupling gel, which speeds up measurements.
A robot that moves along vertical concrete surfaces and carries sensors where access is difficult: bridge piers, shear walls, façades, chimneys.
Without a robot, inspecting a tall pier or a deck above water requires scaffolding, an access platform or rope-access technicians: it is slow, costly and risky. The robot brings the sensors to the surface and sweeps it evenly, without staff having to climb. We can bring it in with its manufacturer for structures that justify it.
Equipment selected for our first campaigns, being acquired, rented or provided through partnerships depending on the instrument; availability is confirmed when the order is placed. Characteristics as stated in the manufacturers' data sheets; they depend on configuration and terrain.