Impact Echo Test

Test Procedures

  • Set up the equipment as shown.
  • A short-duration mechanical impact, produced by tapping a small steel sphere against a concrete or masonry surface.
  • A low-frequency stress waves that generates propagate into the structure and are reflected by flaws and/or external surfaces.
  • Surface displacements caused by reflections of these waves are recorded by a transducer, located adjacent to the impact.
  • The resulting displacement versus time signals are transformed into the structure and are reflected by flaws and/or external surfaces
  • The resulting displacement versus time signals are transformed into the frequency domain, and plots of amplitude versus frequency (spectra) are obtained.
spec1

Amplitude Spectrum of Sound Concrete Slab

spec2

Amplitude Spectrum of Flawed Concrete Slab

How to Test Concrete Using Impact Echo Method – Courtesy of FPrimeC Solutions Inc.