AUSCULTATION OF CONCRETE HYDRAULIC STRUCT URES USING SONIC TOMOGRAPHY

Concrete aging is a problem that affects more and more service structu res. Detailed knowledge of their state is necessary prior to rehabilit ation. Sonic tomography, a relatively new, nondestructive global auscu ltation approach allows to reconstitute the internal image of the stru cture. Transmitted sonic wave velocity in the material is the paramete r considered. The relative variation in wave propagation velocity in t he material provides information about changes in the structure, and t herefore the state of degradation. Two hydraulic concrete structures w ere studied. The principle and the experimental procedure of this meth od are explained.