Monitoring the hardening process of ultra high performance concrete using decomposed modes of guided waves

In this study, the hardening process of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) was monitored non-destructively using a single embedded sensor system and the characteristics of guided waves, especially the Lamb wave. Lamb wave propagation depends on the material properties of the medium and boundary conditions. Since the boundary conditions of the embedded sensor system continuously change during the hardening process of concrete materials, the measured characteristics of the propagating waves also vary. To understand the variations in wave propagation, the Lamb modes were decomposed using the polarization characteristics of piezoelectric sensors, which were used to measure wave responses. Additionally, a traditional penetration resistance method was adopted to estimate the time for phase transition of UHPC. The decomposed Lamb modes were compared to measurements of penetration resistance. The strength development of UHPC, with and without short-fiber reinforcement, was estimated using the variation of patterns of the decomposed Lamb modes after the phase transition. Based on the proposed methodology, which measures the propagation and variation of the Lamb waves, it is possible to estimate the time of phase transition and the strength development of UHPC.