On the study of elastic wave scattering and Rayleigh wave velocity measurement of concrete with steel bar

This paper presents results on a study of the Rayleigh wave scattering and Rayleigh wave velocity measurement in concrete with a steel bar using trans ient elastic waves. To study the characteristics of the scattered waves ind uced by a steel bar in concrete, a three-dimensional heterogeneous finite d ifference formulation with staggered grids was adopted. The cases for both elastic wave propagation parallel and perpendicular to the steel bar are di scussed. The effect of the cover thickness and steel bar spacing on the Ray leigh wave velocity measurement was studied. To confirm the numerical inves tigations, a concrete specimen containing steel bar was made and the corres ponding transient elastic wave experiments were conducted. The numerical re sults are in good accordance with those of the measured. We note that the r esult of this study can serve as an important reference in the Rayleigh wav e velocity measurement of concrete with steel bar. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.