Ensuring sufficient concrete cover is critical for the durability of concrete structures subject to poor environment during their service life. The identification of embedded steel rebar, cover depth and size are the important parameters in the inspection of reinforced concrete structures. Usually, the information of interest includes the location of steel reinforcement, the concrete cover depth, the bar size/diameter, and the likelihood/extent of rebar corrosion. The Profometer test is a perfect on-site solution where the location, depth and size of rebar needs to be known. This may include Corrosion investigation, Quality Control and Assurance of new concrete structures, Location of rebar for penetrations or coring.
CIMEC is equipped with Proceq Profometer650 AI (Profometer analyser and rebar scanner) forconcrete cover measurements and rebar scanning. This is an advanced cover meter that enable the precise and non-destructive measurement of concrete cover, estimation of rebar diameter and the detection of rebar locations using eddy current pulse induction as the measuring method. Multiple coil arrangements in the probe are periodically charged by current pulses and thus generate a magnetic field. When a reinforcing bar lies within this field, the lines of force become distorted. The disturbance caused by the presence of the metal in turn produces a local change in field strength as detected and indicated by the instrument. The resulting change in voltage can be utilized for the measurement. Advanced signal processing allows localization of a rebar, determination of the cover and estimation of the rebar diameter.