Impact-echo data and crack classification of six prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers of type B70

This article presents non-destructive testing data from six prestressed reinforced concrete sleepers of type B70. The investigation methods employed were visual inspection and impact-echo. Impact Echo testing was performed with three different actuator types, including air-coupled impact-echo actuation. For data acquisition, the same accelerometer was used for all actuators. Two of the six sleepers were factory-new. The other four were in service for several years and show serious deterioration and crack patterns. The crack types and corresponding damage classes are documented in the crack catalogues. This is the first time air-coupled impact-echo data have been published. The data consist of a crack catalogue based on visual inspection, time series of the accelerometer mounted on the top surface, and high-resolution photographs of the sleepers. This dataset is unique as it enables a direct comparison of different types of actuation on slender geometries made of concrete. Air-coupled and manual impact-hammer actuation was performed on all sleepers. Actuation using a commercial device with an electromechanically mounted impact-hammer was applied only to one intact and one damaged sleeper, as the resulting spectrograms are very similar to those obtained using manual impact-hammer actuation. The dataset enables the community to verify and reevaluate the data. This should give confidence in the new approach and motivate others to develop advanced data processing to increase prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the actuation needs just pressurised air, delivered through common air gun nozzles. Thus, other research groups and inspection companies might adopt this method and use our data or processing approach for fast and efficient comparison. This article accompanies the research article "Air-coupled impact-echo actuation applied on concrete sleepers for crack detection" published in the Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation (Springer Nature). There, the data are analysed in detail and the application of air-coupled impact-echo for the condition assessment of concrete sleepers is evaluated.