BRIDGES AND STRUCTURES DIRECTORATE

TEST FACILITIES
List of Non Destructive and Destructive Testing equipments available
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Rebound Hammer
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Meter
Profometer
Core Cutter Machine
Corrosion Analyser
Eddy Current Meter
Permeability tester
Resistivity meter
Ultrasonic range finder
Crack detection microscope
Digital inclinometer
Windsor Probe
Lok Test & Capo Test
Acoustic Emission Technique
Static load test on sleeper
Impact load test on sleeper
Compressive Testing Machine
Assessment of Residual Life of Steel Bridges
Flat Jack System
Video Boroscope
Infrared Thermal Imager

Activities of B & S Laboratory

1 Rebound Hammer
It is used to assess the compressive strength of concrete in
existing structures. When plunger of rebound hammer is
pressed against the surface of the concrete, the spring
controlled mass rebounds & extent of such rebound depends
on the surface hardness which is co- related to compressive
strength of Concrete.

2 Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Meter

It is used for assessment of quality of concrete in existing
structure based on its density. Quality of concrete is considered
as good in terms of its density, homogeneity and uniformity

3 Profometer
It is used to measure the concrete cover and bar diameter in
existing RCC structures. It can also identify the bar locations
and their spacing. The scanning area permissible by the
instrument is 0.5X0.5m / 1.0x1.0m / 2.0x2.0m.

4 Core Cutter Machine

It is used for estimation of physical characteristics of masonry /
concrete by extracting core samples from the structure. The
maximum depth of the core which can be cut is 430 mm.

5 Corrosion Analyser
It is used to find out the likelihood of corrosion in Reinforcement
bars inside the concrete structure.

6 Eddy Current Meter

This instrument is used for detecting flaws / cracks in steel
structures. If any crack exists than it is displayed on screen of
the instrument.

7 Permeability Tester
This instrument is used for determination of the air permeability
of cover concrete. This operates under vacuum & used on
concrete structure. It permits a rapid & non destructive
measurement of quality of the cover concrete with respect to its
durability.

8 Resistivity Meter
This instrument is used to measure the electrical resistance of
concrete cover for corrosion status of reinforced bars. Lower
the electrical resistance, the more is the probability of corrosion
of metal.

9 Ultrasonic Range Finder

The Instrument can do following measurements.
(a) Length Measurement
(b) Area Measurement
(c) Volume Measurement
The maximum possible measurements are
a) Length 20 m
b) Surface area 400 m
c) Volume 8000 m

10 Crack Detection Microscopes

It is a portable type of instrument which detects the width of the
crack on the surface of structure. Used extensively to record
the extent of crack widths on existing piers and abutments
which are distressed.

11 Digital Inclinometer
Instrument is used to find out the inclination of the piers and
abutments of the bridges. The measuring range of the
instrument is 0 to 90.

12 Windsor Probe
Windsor Probe is used to find out the compressive strength of
existing concrete structure. This equipment gives compressive
strength of concrete by driving a steel probe into the surface of
concrete. The lower the depth of probe penetration, higher the
compressive strength of concrete.

13 Lok Test & Capo Test

The Lok test system is used to obtain a reliable estimate of the
actual strength of concrete in the structure, newly casted or
under construction, in accordance with the pullout test method.
Capo test system is used in existing concrete structure

14 Acoustic Emission Technique

The Technique is used to detect the smaller cracks developed
at hidden locations of members of
steel bridges.
It
distinguishes between active & dormant cracks. It can be used
to check the effectiveness of retrofit /repair measures
undertaken on the bridges.

15 Static Load Test Facilities

Static load test is done to verify the design and structural
properties of a product and to assess its performance under a
given static load criteria.

16 Impact Load Test Facilities

This test is conducted mostly on sleepers to observed the
performance under impact with respect to a given criteria.

17 Compressive Testing Machine

This machine is used for testing compressive strength of
concrete cubes to monitor quality of concrete during
construction.

18 Assessment of Residual Life of Steel Bridges

B&S Directorate is doing instrumentation for assessment of
residual fatigue life of existing steel bridges. This residual
fatigue life estimation is also done analytically based on
theoretical design data and load parameters available without
instrumentation.

19 Flat Jack System

This instrument is used to measure the stresses developed due
to applied load. It is used only on brick masonry and stone
masonry.

20 Video Boroscope
This instrument is used to monitor the internal condition of the
concrete structure.

21 Infrared Thermal Imager

It is used to get infrared and visual images of defects at

different locations on concrete and steel structure. It gives the
condition of images captured.