Abstract
One of the most frequent problems in concrete structures is corrosion of metal reinforcement. It occurs when the steel
reinforcement is exposed to environmental agents. The corrosion products occupy greater volume than the steel
consumed, leading to internal expansion stresses. When the stresses exceed concrete strength, eventually lead to
corrosion-induced cracking beneath the surface. These cracks do not show any visual sign until they break the surface,
exposing the structure to more accelerated deterioration. In order to develop a methodology for sub-surface damage
characterization, a combination of non destructive testing (NDT) techniques was applied. Thermography is specialized in
subsurface damage identification due to anomalies that inhomogeneities impose on the temperature field. Additionally,
ultrasonic surface waves are constrained near the surface and therefore, are ideal for characterization of near-surface
damage. In this study, an infrared camera scans the specimen in order to indicate the position of potential damage. For
cases of small cracks, the specimens are allowed to cool and the cooling-off curve is monitored for more precise results.
Consequently, ultrasonic sensors are placed on the specified part of the surface in order to make a more detailed
assessment for the depth of the crack. Although there is no visual sign of damage, surface waves are influenced in terms
of velocity and attenuation. The combination of the NDT techniques seems promising for real structures assessment.
