Electromagnetic characterization of grouting materials of bridge post tensioned ducts for NDT using capacitive probe

The use of a capacitive probe as a non-destructive investigative technique for controlling the post tensioned ducts of bridges has gained increasing acceptance in France since several years. A field campaign measurement made in 2006 has shown the performance of the capacitive probe developed by the IFSTTAR. Nevertheless, some results are not understood, and in particular the behaviour of the probe when cement exudation product are present in the duct. Without an accurate knowledge of the electromagnetic properties of those products it is impossible to quantitatively assess the results of our capacitive probe. This paper reports the development of a coaxial transmission line feature. It was designed to allow the evaluation of a large type of material (liquid, paste or granular) over a large frequency range (50 MHz–4 GHz at maximum). A calibration scheme developed before at the Fresnel Institute was used. Using a two port S parameter instrument, the complex permittivity and magnetic permeability were evaluated by frequency domain measurement. The electromagnetic characterization of cement paste, cement exudation products and injection wax has brought us some key results in the interpretation of the capacitive probe signal. The results of this characterization were then used in a 3D semi analytical modelling of the problem. The studies of configurations with exudation products are presented and compared to experimental results obtained with our capacitive probe on laboratory duct.