Concrete Testing Equipment

Test Equipment Leasing Can Provide the Right Answer for Small Businesses

2012-01-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

To own a business today, you are faced with many financial challenges and worries. Depending on the services your business provide, the total of your financial expenses can sometimes be a real worry and affect the long or short term survival prospects of your enterprise. Particularly with small businesses is the current financial state not ideal in helping us get ahead or make a good profit from our financial businesses. When it comes to the day-to-day problems that we face from today's financial conditions, only we can help ourselves when it comes to making the right decisions to head your business in the right direction.

Businesses can be difficult to operate. Often we go into a business venture thinking that it will be a relatively small amount of work for a good income. We generally find however, that you need to do an extreme amount of after-hours to keep a business functioning properly. With all of the actual labor plus the book-work you must do to keep ahead of everything and know how your business is performing can be very strenuous. Particularly for a business such as one involving test equipment, it can be difficult to find work and also to find employees suitable for your needs.

Types of equipment that a company involved with testing needs, can vary greatly. An example of a testing company can be in the mine industry where a lot of things need to be tested. All equipment in a mine, varying from chains to forklifts must be tested to prove that they are working correctly and prevent accidents or people getting injured. A testing business needs equipment to be able to provide these testing services. Other areas where testing equipment can be used for in the computer and electrical sector. Multi-meters and other tools are simple examples of equipment used for this purpose.

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Industry Feature: Addressing the industry need to create concrete testing equipment that can deliver accurate readings on virtually any concrete from any direction, on any surface without the need to compensate for impact direction, Switzerland-based Proceq announced today that it has launched the new SilverSchmidt concrete test hammer

Construction Testing Equipment

2012-01-10T20:10:00.000-08:00

Wherever construction of any kind is to go ahead there will be need for some kind of construction testing equipment. In fact, there is likely to be more than one kind needed. For instance, if a dam is to be built, then you will need soil testing equipment to find out whether the soil and right though to deep beneath the soil is suitable for such a large structure. The soil needs to have good water holding properties or the water in that dam will just disappear through the soil.

Additionally, when a dam is planned there will be need for concrete testing equipment and maybe even asphalt testing equipment to ensure that these materials are of a strong enough quality to do the job of standing against the pressure of the water as it builds up against the dam wall. If poor quality materials are used then the only thing to look forward to is a great disaster as that wall will eventually go down and let out a huge wave of water.

Buildings and bridges must also be built to a certain standard to ensure safety for all those using them. To this end a great deal of construction testing equipment must be used to test a variety of metals and other construction materials. So where can all this equipment be found?

There are many companies that specialise in making construction testing equipment and most of them have an Internet presence. You only need to type in the specific keyword that is appropriate to your needs to find your search engine will bring up many such companies. It is then only a matter of choosing the most suitable one. This can be done by choosing the company firstly that offers the type of goods that you want and secondly offers good service in delivering them quickly.

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Importance of Material Testing

2011-08-29T04:12:00.000-07:00

Material testing is a must in all industries, particularly the building and car manufacturing sectors. This is because these parts of the economy are capable of harming people if done incorrectly. For example, material not properly tested and are used in a vehicle can be very dangerous should the same vehicle experience collision. Hence, the need for material testing becomes obvious in an effort to protect the people who will be using the manufactured product. However, most manufacturers seem to test their equipment at the end of the manufacturing process instead of the first part. What usually happens is that they test the product as a whole instead of the individual parts making the product.

Material Testing and Structural Analysis
Testing the materials used for a particular product involves a degree of special engineering. This means utilizing structural analysis in order to form equipment that would perform wonderfully when exposed to certain variables. For example, the strength of the material is factored in the equation as well as its flexibility. This is done for each and every equipment that makes up the whole machinery instead of simply constructing – for example, a car – and exposing it to the various rigors of everyday life.

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Benefits of Calibration Service and Material Testing

2011-08-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

Calibration Service checks and authenticates equipment performance with the help of measuring instrument in various processes. It makes sure that your equipments are capable of providing you with desired and accurate results. It keeps the performance level in check and also assists quality requirements. There are various tools and accessories available to perform Calibration Service. It provides commercial instrument calibration, Material Testing, equipment repair service for a wide selection of measurement and test equipments.

The service provider ought to have authentic certification and pass specific standards to perform Calibration Service and Material Testing. The performance and accuracy of equipments tend to depreciate over time. To keep a quality and functionality check, Calibration Service is required at regular time period. The measurement ability of equipments is improved after calibrating them thus improving measurement power and consistency. In Calibration Service, there are various steps and methods involved and one can choose it as per specific requirements.

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Material testing equipment: Examining quality of machines and products

2011-08-18T04:08:00.000-07:00

Making mistake is part of human. No one is perfect and errors are bound to happen. Though it might sound a cliché, but holds true in every aspects; that to err is human. No matter how carefully we work but blunders have reserved rooms. But one should also correct the errors so that perfection can be invited. Quality checks are significant and are best way to eye on mistakes.

Though machines are discovered and fabricated which have minimized human efforts to great extent. They are excellent alternative against limited human capability; machines save time and work can be performed at great speed. Besides, they are more reliable and durable, for instance, machines can be banked upon in producing products which are equal in shapes and sizes. But machines can too commit mistakes and there are numerous reasons for it. Continuous operation can lead to wear and tear of the machines or the lack of proper components while fabrication of machinery. They need to be checked for getting the desired outputs.

The way examinations and tests judge the students, and results tell them area of improvements. Similarly, material testing is mandatory in every industry and building and car manufacturing are sectors engage wide range of such equipments.

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Why and How of Calibration Service and Material Testing

2011-08-15T04:06:00.000-07:00

Almost all industries use calibration service to get the best performance from their products. Well, it is nothing but the process of gauging the performance level of any equipment. The procedure differs from product to product, and almost all of them involve the use of a number of tools and techniques that are quite costly. Material testing is also a similar process used in many industry sectors.

Why avail the services of a calibration service provider?

As has been mentioned earlier, calibration service involves purchasing of costly equipment. But, nowadays with the availability of calibration service providers you do not have to spend huge amount of money in purchasing them. A good service provider would always give you the confidence and support to make your machines function most efficiently. This is true for any new equipment as well as for your old equipment. Getting material testing done gives you accurate report about the condition of your used equipment. You can get an idea even when there is wear and tear in your equipment.

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Another 70 metre Palfinger for Extreme Wind

2011-07-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

UK based Extreme Wind Services has purchased another 70 metre Palfinger WT700 from distributor Skyking for wind turbine maintenance work in the UK.

Extreme specialises in the servicing of wind turbines combining a cleaning service with inspection, video analysis and non-destructive testing, including ultrasonic, acoustic and thermography. Resultant blade repair services can also be scheduled by the operator to help prolong the life of the blades.

Skyking supplied Extreme’s first 70 metre platform in 2009 and have worked closely with the company to ensure that the platform can safely accommodate the company’s specialist attachments which clean and inspect the blades. The machine has provided trouble free service during the period.

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Aerolia runs up A350 panel production

2011-07-26T01:06:00.000-07:00

EADS' France-based aerostructure subsidiary Aerolia plans to deliver the first two Airbus A350 cockpit fuselage sections this summer in continuation of the former Airbus operation's tradition to build the "front end" of the European aircraft family. However, the target for the company is to be sold to an external investor and to balance out its nearly exclusive Airbus workload against other manufacturers.

Production is running up in the new 18,000m² (194,000ft²) composite unit at Aerolia's assembly site in Méaulte, 30km (18 miles) northeast of Amiens, which opened at the end of November 2010, even though means of production were still being installed in late May. The first A350 nose fuselage section is to be delivered "between June and September", says chief executive Christian Cornille, adding that the second one is to follow "within a month".

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Non-Destructive Compression Testing of Concrete

2011-07-24T01:04:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The use of the non-destructive testing methods for determining the compressive strength of high performance concrete ensures high quality. Compressive strength test results are mainly used to determine whether the concrete mixtures used meet standard specifications. Structural failures because of concrete mixes that do not have the necessary strength for the specific application can be catastrophic and may lead to loss of life. Hence it becomes extremely important for construction companies to carry out such tests prior to opening structures such as buildings for service. Non-destructive testing also has the advantage that it is quicker and far more economical than destructive testing on samples.

Case Study

This application note details the use of Proceq’s SilverSchmidt BN hammer by Hyundai Engineering and Construction. The specific requirements of the customer, applications of the instrument in the customer site and the benefits to the customer are discussed below.

Customer Profile

Hyundai Engineering & Construction is a major Korean construction company working in a wide range of activities in the construction industry including residential and industrial projects, electricity and nuclear power plants, etc. The company is headquartered in South Korea with offices in Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and UK.

Customer Requirements

The customer needed a comprehensive solution for concrete testing and their specific requirements are listed below:

On-site non-destructive testing of concrete compressive strength.
Speed of testing is essential.
Quick, reliable and consistent measurement of compressive strength on high performance concrete.

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Bluestream Comeback Marked By ROV Order

2011-07-20T00:59:00.000-07:00

An order on Saab Seaeye for a new Cougar XT light-work ROV is markting Bluestream's comeback in the market. The Netherlands-based offshore subsea and rope access services company will use the ROV for light construction tasks, remote tooling, HP cleaning, diver support, salvage, drill support, well intervention, non-destructive testing, pipeline survey work, inspection, repair and maintenance. The ROV will join their fleet of five Saab Seaeye Tigers, and two Surveyor Plus systems.

Managing director of Bluestream, Rolf de Vries, says there is a strong focus within Bluestream's business model on ROV support services, in addition to contracted diving and rope access services.

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Ronacrete provides concrete repair and protection in Hove

2011-07-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Elastomeric anti-carbonation coating and anti-carbonation coatings used to protect high-rise flats from sea damage. Concrete Repair & Protection range.

Ronacrete products were used in the restoration of 1 Grand Avenue Hove, a late 1960/70s multi-storey private residential block situated in a prime seafront location.

As is common in coastal locations, the reinforced concrete elements of the building had suffered severe deterioration, including spalling to the concrete of private balconies and to ring beams. More critically, the ring beams supporting the outer brick skins of the flank walls had suffered serious structural damage, with an imminent risk of failure of the brick cladding.

The main contractor Ellis Builders of Eastbourne appointed Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete Repairs Limited to undertake over £100,000 worth of specialist remedial repairs.

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Permeable Concrete Tested To Reduce City Street Flooding

2011-07-13T23:33:00.000-07:00

The drainage system in New Orleans is so strained that after ten minutes of rainfall, cars wade through ponds on the street and pedestrians wear rubber boots just to reach the corner drugstore. To minimize those sloshes, city officials, along with green-builders Make It Right Foundation and others, are experimenting with pervious pavement--a porous material with an underlying layer that captures water and oily contaminants.

Cedric Grant, New Orleans Deputy Mayor of Facilities, Infrastructure and Community Development, said last week that the city is testing the benefits of using pervious concrete in the Lower Ninth Ward.

"About 300 feet of heavily deteriorated asphalt on North Prieur Street between Jourdan and Deslonde was repaved with pervious concrete this spring," he said. That was the first local, street application of the material. "The city partnered with Hard Rock Construction, Lafarge North America and the Make It Right Foundation to test this project."

University of New Orleans engineering students did the design work needed to pave the project's single, city block.

"At this time, the city is testing the installation of the newly paved road for strength and durability," and to see whether pervious concrete can drain water from streets, Grant said. He noted that "all Make It Right homes utilize pervious concrete sidewalks and driveways, totaling more than 35,000 square feet in the Lower Ninth Ward."

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Metal Hardness Tester – Equostat 3

2011-06-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

The Equostat 3 was developed for accurate, rapid and reproducible metal hardness testing. It features excellent sensitivity through small penetration of a few µm and is therefore particularly suited for testing metal hardness of surface layers on scratch-sensitive and polished parts or on thin parts, profiles and pipes with a wall thickness that is below 2 mm (0.08”).

The Equostat 3 works well in outdoor, factory and lab environments. It has only very few requirements on test piece geometries. The Equostat 3 probe can be connected directly to a laptop or a PC. Alternatively, the probe plugs into the Equotip 3 indicating device to combine the Rockwell principle of Equostat with the Leeb rebound principle of Equotip 3 to become the most versatile hardness tester. Live user guidance dialogs enable the user to obtain very accurate and highly reproducible measurements.

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Trivia: The PaperSchmidt paper roll hardness tester is the first rebound hammer designed specifically for paper roll hardness testing.

Hardness Testers - Different Scales For Various Specifications

2011-06-25T02:34:00.000-07:00

Hardness testers are industrial products used in order to measure a certain material's capacity to resist indentation, notches or recesses. This is done by measuring the depth of the indentation of any material. The results showing the smaller indentations signify that the material is harder than the other.

To understand more about the product known as hardness testers, one must be able to look into the scales used in order to determine a material's hardness. There are different varieties ranging from Brinell, coating, Rockwell and nanoindentation to Vickers and Knoop, coating and ultrasonic. There are also methods used along these techniques like superficial, macro and micro testing. Some of these scales are explained in the succeeding paragraphs.

Coating hardness tester

This is a scale that gauges the hardness of a material through the use of scratching, rubbing and indentation tests. The same evaluates the wear resistance of adhesives, sealants, thin paint films and CDs and DVDs. When evaluating coating hardness, brilliant ideas are based from indentation testers of Barber Coleman, Persoz and Koenig pendulums and Bucholz. Sclerometers are also utilized to evaluate and measure the pressure that often results to scratches in a certain material.
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For More Information About Roll Hardness Testers and other Next Generation Tools, visit the Proceq Website

Calibration Service and Its Significance

2011-06-24T02:33:00.000-07:00

Calibration Service involves checking the performance of various equipments with the help of different measuring means. The equipments are checked as per their functionality and their capability to perform and this service allows you to make sure whether your equipments are working in the right manner. To undergo the service, a number of tools and techniques are available. They offer material testing commercial instrument calibration to test and check varied equipments. This service provides you the confidence and support enabling your machines to function better.

The service of calibration is a vital measure that keeps a check on the accuracy of performance. As time passes, every equipment or machinery is subject to wear and tear. Calibration service gives the exact report of condition. Measurement specialties accelerometers are available to get the desired results in no time. Inspection and material testing is very essential for proper services. It is crucial to have fully accredited calibration instruments for service providers in order to provide its customers effective, reliable and durable services.

Trivia: The PaperSchmidt paper roll hardness tester is the first rebound hammer designed specifically for paper roll hardness testing.

An Overview on Automated Test Equipment

2011-06-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

Automated Test Equipment (ATE) is computer controlled equipment that is used for testing the performance and functionality of electronic devices or even help in subassembly of electronic components, PCBs or PCAs. Furthermore, ATE is used to perform stress testing which involves minimal human interaction. ATE performs tests on a device, known as the Device Under Test (DUT). This device is very efficient in measuring the performance and evaluating the test results. DUT is physically connected to the ATE through a machine called a Handler or Prober and a customized Interface Test Adapter (ITA) that helps in familiarizing the ATE's resources to the DUT.

In this process the steps are repeatable, consistent and faster in comparison to the manual processes. It is a great advantage of technology to mankind which is making the testing process much simpler and faster. Most of the smart manufacturing companies have adopted this methodology which has proved really beneficial to them. Earlier it used to take several hours to perform testing of an electronic device but now with the automated test equipment the same task is done in few minutes. Due to this reason ATE is considered to be cost effective and efficient electronic testing equipment which is ideal for high volume testing.

Learn about The Basics of Hardness Testing and Special Taps

Find out samples of versatile portable hardness testers

Electrical Testing Equipment - Different Types For Your Varying Needs

2011-06-22T02:32:00.000-07:00

Electrical gadgets have been a part of daily living for many decades now. Each task is made easier by these sets of equipment. Specifically, it lessens the time one needs to devote on a specific endeavor. One of the industrial products in this regard is the so-called electrical testing equipment.

Electrical testing equipment may be sub-classified in a number of ways depending on the industry that makes use of the gadget. Some of the most common ones are automated test equipment, backplane testers, battery testers and burn-in test equipment. Here are some essential facts on each type of electrical tester.

Automated test equipment

This is perhaps one of the most advanced of all electrical testing equipment. It makes use of computers in order to test and measure a particular type of industrial unit. This type of equipment is quite costly especially for starters plus it also requires proper technical know-how during the set-up and programming stages.

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Do you know How to detect the hardness of stainless steel pipe?

Find out samples of versatile portable hardness testing machine

Watch this video of a portable hardness tester in action

Use Electrical Testing Equipment to Ensure the Safety of Your Loved Ones

2011-06-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

Electrical test equipments are essential in our daily chores. It helps us in ensuring the safety of all our loved ones. If you don't want to appoint a PAT tester this is the equipment you can use to do the testing yourself.

PAT testing equipment

Talking about PAT testers, for the beginners PAT is a kind of a certification provided to the electrical devices that they have been tested and are safe to use. PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing. Electrical equipments can go wrong anytime so it is better to get them checked up regularly. There are professional who do this and are known as testers.

Initially they were used to test the electrical equipments after they were manufactured by the manufacturer itself. But now days to comply with the legal regulations organizations use it to ensure the health and safety of the employees. It is also used at home.

There are many electrical appliances which need regular testing. To ensure the safety of everybody using that appliance, these should be checked regularly. The time for checking can be decided depending on the nature of the appliance, the frequency of its use and also the environment in which it is being used.

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Learn about The Basics of Hardness Testing and Special Taps

Find out samples of versatile portable hardness testers

The Correlation Curve Of A Rebound Hammer

2011-06-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

A rebound hammer is primarily used to assess the uniformity of concrete strength within a structure and to localize areas of inferior quality.

When using a rebound hammer to estimate in-situ compressive strength, the reference curves provided by the manufacturer must be used with some caution. The correlation between rebound number and compressive strength is very much dependent on the concrete mixture under test. In order to obtain an estimate of in-situ compressive strength using a rebound hammer in accordance with major standards, a calibration is necessary. The recommended method is to correlate the rebound hammer measurements with destructive tests made on core samples, or cubes/cylinders made from the same concrete mixture as that used in the structure.

Please refer to the following standards and guidelines for details of the requirements for creating such a correlation curve: EN 13791 (Europe), ASTM C805, ACI 228.1R-03 (North America), JGJ T23-2001 (China).

The resulting data is used either to shift a reference conversion curve or to define a custom curve for that particular mix. Typically the curve is defined to provide a safety margin to take into account the various factors that may affect the in-situ tests. EN 13791 recommends the use of a lower 10th percentile curve. This means that 90% of the data pairs lie above the curve and only 10% lie below.

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Industry Feature: Addressing the industry need to create a concrete test hammer that can deliver accurate readings on virtually any concrete from any direction, on any surface without the need to compensate for impact direction, Switzerland-based Proceq announced today that it has launched the new SilverSchmidt concrete test hammer

How to Utilize a Rebound Hammer Properly

2011-06-18T02:30:00.000-07:00

The rebound hammer was the first hammer that was created to measure the properties of rock or concrete. There are different versions of the hammer and this enables the company to provide the type of hammer that all customers want for whatever specific job they are doing. The hammer tests the surface hardness of concrete, and although some people believe that this can be converted to compressive strength, this is not acceptable.

The test for the acceptance of concrete must be carried out with different equipment. If the rebound hammer is used, the reading will not be correct and there may be serious consequences later on. The test results can be altered by a number of factors. Moisture content and surface smoothness are just two of the factors that can change it, and they test can only give an estimate of concrete strength.

The manual-testing tool is the instrument used for testing hardened concrete. This does not damage the concrete in any way, and it is an easy piece of equipment to use. It quickly assesses the results and is the most popular way of carrying out this test. Also known as the Schmidt or Swiss hammer, it carries out a very important function. While it is a good instrument to use, it cannot be used in isolation.

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Cold Climates - The Ultimate Testing Ground For Floor Coatings

2011-06-16T02:29:00.000-07:00

The garage floor in cold climates are subject to extreme temperatures, freeze/thaw issues and de-icing salts making it the ultimate testing ground for floor coatings.

De-Icing Salts

De-Icing salts might reduce slippage on roads and walkways but they cause significant damage to the concrete garage floor.. When you drive the salts get into the wheel wells of your car or truck and freeze in place temporarily. When you pull into your garage the salts start to melt the frozen snow and ice. The water that drips from your vehicle liquefies the salts that get into the pores of the concrete as well as the surface, starting a rapid deterioration of the concrete. As the concrete gets saturated it creates humidity and makes a home damp and cold. Not to mention mold buildup and deterioration of the drywall and beams of your home.

Spancrete Construction

Many homes have been built with spancrete construction. This is precast concrete panels that may be 24 -30 feet long, 3 feet wide and six inches thick. They are placed on foundations during construction and become your floor. In the home hardwood, tile and carpet covers the spancrete panels. In the garage concrete is poured about 4 inches thick over the spancrete which is also over your garage. As your home settles cracks form in the concrete above where the spancrete panels abut each other.

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A Brief Background of the Schmidt Hammer And Its Uses

2011-06-15T02:24:00.000-07:00

The Schmidt hammer is not a hammer as we normally think of it as normally a hammer is a wooden handle with a metal bar at the top used just to hit things very hard. There is no skill required and in the wrong hands, they can be dangerous. Ernest Schmidt invented this hammer in 1948. Ernest was a Swiss engineer. The role of that appliance was to carry out tests on rock and concrete. The tests carried out will let the user know the surface hardness and penetration resistance.

The Silver Schmidt tool is a new and improved product, and has many benefits missing from other hammers. Problems had been identified with existing hammers and these included the fact that impact direction had a direct effect on the rebound value, and a less than perfect reading is given. Friction within the wall can also play a part in affecting the reading. The final problem that could cause lack of accuracy is how well the tool is sealed. Silverschmidts new design sorts out these issues, and as a result, tests are now quicker and even more accurate.

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Metal Hardness Testing. Proceq metal hardness testing equipment Equotip includes non destructive testing instrument for static and dynamic testing and wedge seat testing.

Test Concrete Using Rebound Hammer

2011-04-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

Concrete testing is one the most important process in determining the quality of concrete. These testing come in many forms at various state of concrete. Some of the test is needed when concrete is wet (such as workability test), some test is required when concrete starts to harden (such as setting time, cube strength, and etc.), and some test is needed when concrete is already in place. Despite various type of tests, the ultimate aim of these tests are to make sure that concrete selected and used is and will be able to perform to its full capacity.

Testing concrete while at its fresh state is not an issue at all, and even testing hardened concrete properties using test specimens such as cubes and cylinders is also not a challenging task. However, testing a concrete structure that is already in place is totally a different trade. Normally, these test falls under two main categories, namely the destructive test and non-destructive test. As the name sounds, you would be able to figure out how the test is done. Let's reserve the discussion on destructive test for another article. In this article we will touch more non-destructive test, and this article in particular will elaborate more on Rebound Hammer method.

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Find out what is a Schmidt Hammer

Concrete Test Methods

2011-04-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

Concrete must be able to support loads, be impervious to water, have good impact resistance and be easily worked and formed. To achieve this, concrete must be passable in four categories: strength, water-tightness, durability and workability.
Strength and Compression

The primary test of strength of concrete is the ASTM C31 Compression Test, which determines if concrete possesses the required compressive strength. The test involves making a cylindrical sample of the selected concrete mix.

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How to Test the Tensile Strength of Concrete

2011-04-25T01:11:00.000-07:00

Concrete is very weak in tension, but behaves very soundly under compression. When you put a load on top of a concrete beam, the beam bends into a U-shape. The top of the beam is in compression, and the bottom of the beam is in tension. Tensile strength of concrete depends on mix design, but for many engineering and calculation purposes, it is assumed to be zero. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides standard concrete tensile strength measurement procedures. According to the ASTM, the method is useful for both field and laboratory use.

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Find out what is a Schmidt Hammer

Concrete Testing Requirements

2011-04-23T01:10:00.000-07:00

To use concrete correctly, you must understand how to mix it as well as what the testing requirements are in your city or state. The local buildings department determines these requirements and outlines what measures can and should be taken to test the effectiveness and strength of your concrete used in building, whether you're repairing a structure or building a completely new one. Although testing requirements can vary by state and locality, there are several that are held essential in the building industry.

Forms
Construction companies need to be familiar with the types of documentation that their local or state building departments require for cement testing.

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Find out what is a Schmidt Hammer

Types of Concrete Testing

2011-04-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

Used in all types of construction from foundations to garden walls to countertop, concrete is a simple and basic mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates used in creating concrete are sand and gravel while the paste consists of water and cement. To establish your concrete's consistency, air content and strength, you can conduct different tests.

Slump Test
The consistency of the concrete determines how well the concrete will pour, handle and compact. The measurement used to gauge the consistency of concrete is called slump. Problems with consolidation and mortar loss can occur if your slump is too low (runny) or too high (thick). To perform the slump test, take a sample of your recently mixed concrete and pack it into a cone 2 inches high, 8 inches wide at the bottom of the cone and 4 inches at the top which must be open. Level the concrete at the top rim of the cone then lift it so the bottom of the cone remains unsupported. The distance between the top of the cone top and the level the concrete settles at gives you your slump. Compare this number with the slump value on the package your concrete mixture came in to find out if your concrete contains good consistency.

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Do You Know How to Test the Tensile Strength of Concrete?

Industry Feature: Addressing the industry need to create a concrete test hammer (Schmidt hammer) that can deliver accurate readings on virtually any concrete from any direction, on any surface without the need to compensate for impact direction, Switzerland-based Proceq announced today that it has launched the new SilverSchmidt concrete test hammer

Essential Guide in Choosing a Safety Vest

2011-03-01T03:15:00.000-08:00

Most people know that jobs in the construction industry involve a lot of health risks. Not only does a construction job involve working with heavy and potentially harmful machinery, but construction work may also continue 24 hours a day for some companies. While daytime construction isn’t any safer, construction jobs at night are even more dangerous, since visibility becomes poor. For this reason, the construction industry, along with labor unions, formulated ways to make the workplace safer.

One solution was to provide workers with safety vests that increase visibility. These safety vests come in two classes: class 2 vests, which have no sleeves and class 3 vests, which have sleeves. As the safety vest became popular, people involved in industries or activities other than construction began to wear the gear, too. Cyclists, for example, wore the vests during early-morning competitions.

One may also see security officials using safety vests in activities like concerts and even political rallies. If you think the vests may be of use to you, it’s always important to know some tips. You may ask for advice from friends and you may try the following tips.

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By Bobbi Holberg

Roll Hardness Tester – 6 Steps to Test the Roll Profile

2010-11-30T22:50:00.000-08:00

Each factory has its own recommendations for measuring the roll hardness. However the method is very similar in all cases and some general principals can be applied.

1. To prepare the roll hardness tester for use, press the plunger against hard surface and press firmly until the push-button springs out. The hammer is now ready to make an impact.

2. Begin at one end of the roll and not too close to the edge. To carry out an impact, place the roll hardness tester perpendicular to the paper roll. Push the hammer against the surface of the roll at a moderate speed until the impact is triggered. For best results, impact at the same angle and try to apply the same pressure for each reading. Repeat this procedure to obtain a profile across the entire roll in the cross machine direction.

3. The impact angle alters the reading on the scale as the rebound of the hammer mass is affected by gravity. Therefore it is imperative to always use the same impact angle. (TAPPI T 834 om-07 recommends measuring horizontally). Higher values will be obtained on the same roll when impacting horizontally as opposed to impacting vertically.

4. How the results are reviewed depend very much on the working practice of the paper factory. A typical method is this: First, calculate an average from all readings taken; Second, check the variations, i.e. the range between the maximum and the minimum values and third, determine whether or not this exceeds the specified tolerance.

5. It is recommended to check the calibration of the roll hardness tester on a regular basis. The TAPPI Standard T 834 om-07 recommends performing a calibration check each week, or prior to use if you use it less regularly.

6. The impact plunger recoils when it deploys. Always hold the roll hardness tester in both hands.

For More Information About Roll Hardness Testers and other Next Generation Tools, visit the Proceq Website

Rebound Hammer - Two Measuring Principles

2010-11-09T01:30:00.000-08:00

Rebound hammers are used to determine the compressive strength of concrete. Compressive strength test results are, among other things, used to determine that the concrete mixture as delivered meets the requirements of the specification. Structural failures due to weaker than defined concrete mixes can be catastrophic and may lead to loss of life. Therefore, quality checks are of paramount importance to serious construction companies. In addition, non-destructive testing is faster and far more economical than destructive testing on samples.

Mechanical rebound hammer measure the mechanical travel of the hammer mass on the rebound. It is affected by its friction on the guide rod, the friction of the drag pointer on the scale, the influence of gravity during its travel and the relative velocity between unit and mechanical parts.
Electronic rebound hammers, on the other hand, use the true rebound coefficient that represents the physical rebound coefficient: Q = 100*((Energy Restored)/(Energy Input))
These rebound hammers measure the velocity of impact and of rebound, immediately before and after the impact, computing the fraction of energy loss to the specimen under test. The true rebound coefficient is virtually free of error sources inherent in traditional concrete test hammers. It is measured optically making the use of a drag and drop pointer redundant. Thus the true rebound coefficient is less dependent on friction on the guide rod, the influence of gravity during the travel of the drag pointer and the relative velocity between unit and specimen. Rebound hammers that measure with the true rebound coefficient do not need correction for the impact direction. Consequently, impact direction conversion curves as required with mechanical hammers, are also redundant.

To find out more about roll hardness testing visit us at Proceq

Proceq manufactures quality nondestructive portable testing instruments for metal hardness, concrete properties and concrete testing equipment. Proceq invented the Equotip portable metal hardness tester and the world’s first portable concrete test hammer, the Schmidt concrete test hammer.

Roll Hardness Testing – Why is it Important?

2010-11-01T23:28:00.000-07:00

The roll hardness of the paper roll has to be hard enough to guarantee a smooth unwinding at the one hand and has to be just hard enough to ensure a damage-free shipping and handling at the other hand.

A reliable measurement of the roll hardness profile is of critical importance in determining whether a roll is good or bad:

Rolls that are wound too soft typically may go out of round during transport and storage. If this happens it causes irregularities whilst unwinding and the only way to compensate for the effects is to slow down the speed of the unwinding machine leading to a loss in production.

Rolls that are wound too tightly can lead for example, to bursts within the roll, corrugations on the surface as the web is stretched too tightly.

Rolls that are wound too soft or too hard can cause serious problems when handling and this leads to loss in production. The reason for this variations in roll hardness are many, such as difference in moisture content, variations in the caliper (thickness) of the sheets or simply that the winding machine has not been set up correctly.

These variations are very difficult to detect without the aid of a roll hardness tester and if they go serious problems can result. Non-uniform hardness profiles can result in production down times for both producers and converters alike, making it one of the most important factor in determining whether or not a paper roll is good or bad.

To find out more about roll hardness testing visit us at Proceq

Proceq manufactures quality nondestructive portable testing instruments for metal hardness, concrete properties and concrete testing equipment. Proceq invented the Equotip portable metal hardness tester and the world’s first portable concrete test hammer, the Schmidt concrete test hammer.

Silverschmidt Operation

2010-08-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

* Simple operation with the “one button” user interface
* Language independent through the use of graphic user interface
* Automatic conversion to the required measurement unit (MPa, N/mm2, kg/cm2, psi)
* Various statistics to comply with standards or user specified procedures
* Custom presets of test parameters for various testing scenarios can be stored and later recalled
* Quick review of previous measurements

To obtain a reading in units of compressive strength select:

: * Desired unit
* Averaging mode
* Conversion curve for concrete mixture
* Form factor

Concrete Testing Equipment. Perform a test series of specified length. Manual cancellation of obvious outliers is possible.

At the end of the series, the instrument will display the average converted to the desired unit

The Next Generation Tools

2010-07-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Features of Silverschmidt Concrete Test Equipment

2010-07-06T00:26:00.000-07:00

This next generation tool combines an electronic display and advanced mechanics with true rebound coefficient that automatically converts to compressive strength.

Measurement inherently independent of impact direction, meaning no directional corrections are necessary. Concrete Testing Equipment

* High measuring accuracy due to differential optical absolute velocity encoder
* Conversion curves for a wide range of compressive concrete strengths
* Simple operation with "one-button", combined with advanced tilt and twist technology user interface
* Language independent graphical menu with symbols
* Automatic conversion to the required measurement unit (MPa, N/mm2, kg/cm2, psi)

Download Product Brochure for Silverschmidt

The Torrent permeability tester

2009-11-02T01:36:00.000-08:00

Concrete permeability, with respect to air and water, is an excellent indicator of the potential durability and resistance of a particular concrete against the ingress of aggressive media in the gaseous or liquid state.

The Torrent permeability tester permits a rapid and non-destructive measurement of the quality of the cover concrete with respect to its durability.

Application:

To determine the quality of the cover concrete
To assess the durability of a concrete structure

Learn more about The Torrent permeability tester

The Original Schmidt concrete test hammer

2009-10-27T01:32:00.000-07:00

For every demand and specific test application, Proceq offers the right concrete test hammer.

Original Schmidt concrete test hammers are available in models with different impact energies in order to meet the needs to test a wide range of material types and sizes.

Concrete testing with the Original Schmidt test hammer is the most frequent used method for non-destructive concrete testing worldwide.

Proceq Asia introduces the SilverSchmidt Concrete Test Hammer

2009-10-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Proceq launches the new SilverSchmidt Concrete Test Hammer, integrating mechanics, transducer and interface/display electronics in a compact lightweight body.

Addressing the industry need to create a concrete test hammer that can deliver accurate readings on virtually any concrete from any direction, on any surface without the need to compensate for impact direction, Switzerland-based Proceq announced today that it has launched the new SilverSchmidt concrete test hammer.

The Swiss-made SilverSchmidt is ergonomically designed and offers unprecedented benefits when measuring the compressive strength of on-site concrete structures. The SilverSchmidt measures the true rebound coefficient (termed “Q”-value) and converts it to compressive strength. The instrument is controlled via a graphic user-interface featuring a single button and inclination sensing.

Features of the SilverSchmidt include: extended range, improved ease of use and more reliability, as well as higher readability. The SilverSchmidt comes with various modes of statistics, built-in corrections for carbonation, and up-to-date conversion curves for a variety of modern concrete mixtures. The SilverSchmidt complies with most international standards. To assure the compatibility with the established standard, the unit and displays the “R”-value.

Learn more about SilverSchmidt Concrete Test Hammer