Non-Destructive Testing for Documenting Properties of Structural Concrete for Reuse in New Buildings: A Review

Area of Science:

• Construction Engineering
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Building

Background:

• Structural concrete component reuse offers significant environmental benefits by reducing raw material consumption and cement production.
• High reuse rates are crucial for the circular economy, but require robust documentation of component properties for safety assurance.
• Current methods for documenting reused structural components are neither structured nor widely recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a framework for the documentation requirements of structural concrete components intended for reuse.
• To highlight the necessity of documenting mechanical properties, concrete heterogeneity, and reinforcement corrosion status.
• To explore the feasibility of using non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for property assessment in situ.

Main Methods:

• Conducting a comprehensive literature survey on the application of NDT methods for assessing concrete properties.
• Analyzing existing indirect literature where NDT methods have been used for similar property demonstrations.
• Developing a framework for documentation requirements based on identified needs and potential assessment methods.

Main Results:

• NDT methods demonstrate significant potential for documenting essential properties of structural concrete components prior to reuse.
• The study identifies mechanical properties, concrete heterogeneity, and reinforcement corrosion as key documentation requirements.
• In situ assessment using NDT is a novel approach for documenting reused components.

Conclusions:

• The use of NDT methods is a viable and novel approach for documenting the properties of structural concrete components for reuse.
• Further research is needed in combined NDT methods and AI-driven data interpretation for practical implementation.
• Implementing this framework will enhance safety and facilitate higher reuse rates in the circular economy for construction materials.