What is this blog post about?
Have you looked into the equipment used when performing UPV (Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity) testing on concrete. It is called ultrasonic pulse velocity tester. Read through this guide about the Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester and it's definition, mechanism, parts, features, applications and price.
UPV is a popular NDT and perform to check the quality of concrete and defects within concrete by passing ultrasonic waves through the concrete. Read more.
This post will be very useful for civil engineering students, lab technician, lab owners.
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester for Concrete - Features, Applications & Price
What is Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester?
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester (or UPV meter) is a fully portable device for assessing the strength of concrete either in situ or precast and is used to check the quality of concrete and also to find the presence of cracks, voids and other imperfections in concrete by passing ultrasonic waves through the concrete.
What Consists the UPV Tester?
The apparatus “UPV Tester” consists the following:
- Electrical Pulse Generator,
- A pair of Transducer (a transmitter and a receiver),
- Standard Calibration Bar
- An Amplifier and
- Electronic Timing Device.
What is the mechanism of UPV Tester?
An ultrasonic pulse of longitudinal vibrations is produced by an electro-acoustical transducer held in contact with one surface of the concrete under the UPV test. After traversing a known path length in the concrete, the pulse of vibrations is converted into an electrical signal by a second transducer and electronic timing circuits enable the transit time of the pulse to be measured.
The time of flight and the velocity of sound in the material are correlated to estimate the mechanical strength of concrete and defects in concrete.
Features of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester
The most unique features of UPV Tester includes:
- It is light weight and easy to operate.
- It complies with the British Standard BS -4408 (Part V – 1974), IS-516 Part-5 (Sec-1): 2018 and ASTM C597.
- Range up to 5 meters using suitable probe.
- Gives fast and reliable results.
- Computer compatible.
Applications of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester
The ultrasonic pulse velocity tester could be used in:
- Non-destructive strength measurement of in situ or precast concrete.
- Determination of presence of cracks, voids and other imperfections in concrete.
- Estimation of depth of cracks in concrete.
- Determination of Homogeneity of concrete.
- Elastic property measurement of concrete.
- Determination of the quality of concrete in relation to standard requirements.
- Changes in the structure of the concrete which may occur with time.
- Infrastructure Checking.
- Construction Testing.
- For Research Purpose.
- For Students Practical (Civil/Mechanical Engineering Colleges).
- To Test Wood, Rocks and similar materials using suitable probes.
- To Check Railway Path.
- Old Building Strength Check.
What is the Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test Instrument?
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test Instrument gives data concerning the strength and homogeneity of the concrete, by generating pulses of sound into the concrete and measuring the flight time.
