Working area
The automated building diagnosis serves the investigation of structures and building elements with difficult ability and/or health-endangering environments. At the same time an increase of the quality of the non-destructive examination is achieved. The emphasis of the work is on the development and implementation of sensors for the non-destructive examination of engineering structures. Included is the creation of standardized hard and software interfaces, the application-specific adjustment of the experimental set-up and the interface to a database.
Scanner attached to the "Large Concrete Specimen" (enlarged picture)
In Division VIII.2 of BAM a scanning system for automatic NDT-CE testing has been implemented. This system is able to operate fully automatic. Different sensors, such as radar, impact echo and ultrasonic echo probes can be attached.
On the testing area the system can operate continuously or point by point and up to 4 m x 10 m (see large concrete specimen).
At the same time a durable rail system ensures a modular structure, so that the system can be attached to surfaces of arbitrary orientation in length increments of 1,2 m / 2,4 m. Software development includes programmes for the simultaneous contol of the scanner and data aquisition from several sensors.
Ultrasonic echo sensor (left) and impact echo sensor (right) attached to the scanner system (enlarged picture)
At present with the scanner system the NDT-CE methods ultrasonic echo, impact echo and radar are operated; an extension by other procedures is envisaged. In particular the procedures ultrasonic echo and impact echo require a well defined coupling of the sensor with the surface.
This is ensured through the utilisation of a pneumatics system for lowering and lifting the sensors. The system was designed especially for applications on bridges, e.g. the underside of bridge decks or girders.
Service
Division VIII.2
Dr. rer. nat.