Ultrasonic evaluation of different types of mortas subjected to attack by pig slurry

Abstract

This paper presents the mechanical behavior of different types of mortar subjected to attack by real pig slurry. The study of the behaviour of mortars was made by the ultrasonic velocity images, obtained by means of automatic inspection and mechanical test of compressive strength. The use of ultrasonic velocity has allowed the extraction of information on the state of damage to the inspected material. The results obtained from non-destructive ultrasonic tests were compared to destructive testing of compressive strength, and they showed how ultrasonic velocity in the degraded material correlates well with the compressive strength. This conclusion allows us to affirm that the ultrasonic velocity can be used to characterize the process of degradation in cement mortars attacked by pig slurry. The study proposes a mathematic model for estimating compressive strength by measuring variations in ultrasonic velocity.