NF P18-447 Concrete Tests - Determination of Ultrasound Transition Rate

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, provides precise and fast testing services within the scope of NF P18-447 testing. NF P18-447 is a French standard that provides guidelines for concrete testing, including the determination of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). UPV testing is a non-destructive testing method used to measure the speed of sound waves in concrete.

The UPV test is performed using a device that generates a pulse of high-frequency sound waves, which is then transmitted through concrete. The device then measures the time it takes for the sound wave to travel from one point in the concrete to another. UPV is calculated by dividing the distance between two points by the time it takes for the sound wave to travel that distance.

The standard provides detailed instructions for preparing the test sample, positioning the transducers, and performing the measurement. The test is typically performed on cylindrical or prismatic concrete specimens prepared to other relevant standards.

The UPV test is useful for assessing concrete quality, assessing the uniformity of concrete properties, and detecting defects in concrete structures. Although the correlation between UPV and compressive strength may vary depending on the type of concrete and other factors, it can also be used to estimate the compressive strength of concrete.

Ultrasonic testing equipment must be able to determine the transit time of the first front of the pulse with the lowest possible threshold, even if it is small compared to the amplitude of the first half-wave of the pulse.

There must be adequate acoustic coupling between the concrete and the face of each transducer. For most concrete surfaces, the surface is smooth enough to provide good acoustic contact by using a bonding medium such as petroleum jelly, grease, mild soap and kaolin/glycerol paste and pressing the transducer against the concrete surface.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with NF P18-447 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.