Abstract: An ultrasonic system for determining the quality of concrete under water hout inaccuracies caused by electromagnetic interference from the ultrasonic generator. An ultrasonic generator applies pulses to the concrete. An ultrasonic detector detects the ultrasonic pulses and produces corresponding signals that are indicative of ultrasonic pulses that have passed through the material. Signal processing circuitry processes the signals to determine the transit time of the ultrasonic pulses through the material. The signal processing circuitry is disabled for a predetermined time after application of each ultrasonic pulse to the material to prevent noise produced by the means for applying ultrasonic pulses to the material from entering the signal processing circuitry and causing spurious measurements.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus which accurately locates reinforcing bars in underwater concrete structures such as piers, retaining walls, easements and the like and measures the amount of concrete covering each reinforcing bar. The measuring apparus comprises a probe which generates a magnetic field and which is moved over the surface of the underwater concrete structure under test. When the poles of the magnetic field are in parallel alignment with and directly over a reinforcing bar within the structure a disturbance occurs in the magnetic field with the magnitude of the disturbance being indicative of the depth of concrete covering the reinforcing bar. An electronics module electrically coupled to the probe provides an analog output signal which is indicative of the distance between a reinforcing bar within the concrete structure under test and the probe.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus which detects defects in underwater concrete structs by measuring the compressive strength of the structure. The measuring apparatus comprises a rebound hammer which has extending from the nose thereof a plunger. The plunger is pressed against the structure whose compressive strength is being measured forcing the plunger into the rebound hammer's housing which releases a spring driven mass. A resistive film strip which is in electrical contact with the mass detects the maximum rebound of the mass and provides an electrical signal indicative of this maximum rebound. A data acquisition and processing circuit comprising a microprocessor and signal conditioning electronics receives, processes and stores the electrical signals provided by the resistive strip. This circuit includes a peak detection circuit which captures the peak output signal from the resistive strip.