Non-Destructive Testing of Polymer Modified Concrete

Abstract Addition of polymer to modify concrete (PMC) mixtures significantly changes its properties in fresh and hardened states. This is why the evaluation of results of non-destructive tests is not directly applicable to PMC. As PMCs are currently used in various applications, it is necessary to investigate the possibility of applying the existing non-destructive test methods developed for the evaluation of mechanical properties of ordinary concretes. These methods are quite simple and inexpensive, but data analysis and result interpretation require adequate experience. Direct determination of mechanical properties of concrete with non-destructive testing methods is one of the biggest tasks in modern civil engineering, and despite limitations significant improvements have been made in this area. In this paper the results of the study are presented in which twenty concrete mixtures with different cement amounts, w/c ranging from 0.35 to 0.65, different aggregate size and polymer amounts were tested. The relation between mechanical properties obtained by destructive and non-destructive testing methods of the laboratory cast PMC specimens is determined.