Improved detection of tendon ducts and defects in concrete structures using ultrasonic imaging

At the beginning of the 90s the general opinion was, that ultrasonic inspection methods using pulse-echo technique were not suitable for the inspection of concrete because of the inhomogeneity and the strong scattering behavior of the embedded aggregates. In the meantime the progress in the development of new equipment and inspection strategies in connection with ultrasonic imaging techniques turns the pulse-echo technique into a powerful tool to solve problems related to concrete materials. These imaging techniques - developed for the inspection of homogenous materials like steel of aluminum - could be adopted to the very low frequencies needed for concrete inspections.