Development of statistical quality assurance criterion for concrete using ultrasonic pulse velocity method

The ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test has a strong potential to be devel oped into a very useful and relatively inexpensive in place test for assuri ng the quality of concrete placed in a structure. The main problem in reali zing this potential is that the relationship between compressive strength a nd UPV is uncertain and concrete is an inherently variable material. This p aper presents a probabilistic framework to incorporate these uncertainties rationally and systematically In doing so, a reliable and consistent statis tical quality assurance criterion based on UPV measurements call be develop ed. The proposed method of analyzing UPV data allows the engineer to make q uantifiable conclusions regarding the quality of concrete in question. In a ddition, the proposed method also allows the engineer to strike an equitabl e balance between acceptable risk and cost of remedial measures.