Surface equipment of a cement analysis system (CAS) estimates a first drilling fluid slowness (FSLO) and a first drilling fluid acoustic impedance (ZMUD) based on a type and density of wellbore drilling fluid. A second FSLO is estimated based on a thickness and diameter of wellbore casing and transit time for energy emitted by a downhole tool to travel to and from the casing. An FSLO graphical interface is generated based on the first and second FSLO. A second ZMUD is estimated based on the drilling fluid type and density and one of the first and second FSLO selected utilizing the FSLO graphical interface. A ZMUD graphical interface is generated based on the first and second ZMUD. The downhole tool then obtains log data utilizing at least one parameter selected utilizing the ZMUD graphical interface. The log data includes a final ZMUD measured with respect to wellbore depth.

An apparatus and a method for testing water absorption of concrete in a direction parallel with load applying direction are provided. The apparatus includes a loading device, a water filling device, and a monitoring device. The loading device includes an upper support plate and a lower support plate connected with the upper support plate via multiple threaded rods, and a space for placing a concrete specimen formed between the upper support plate and the lower support plate. The water filling device includes a water filling cylinder having a side connected with a water supply tank via an inlet pipe, and another side connected with a water storage tank via an outlet pipe. The monitoring device includes a mass sensor arranged under the water storage tank and a strain gauge for detecting change of stress of the concrete specimen.

A method of sealing propagating cracks in a sensor-laden cement sheath comprising the steps of monitoring an electrical resistivity of the sensor-laden cement sheath to produce a measured value, wherein the sensor-laden cement sheath comprises a conductive sensor, an on-demand expanding agent, and a cement, activating a heat source when the measured value of the electrical resistivity is greater than an activation threshold, increasing a temperature of the sensor-laden cement sheath with the heat source to an activation temperature, wherein the activation temperature is operable to initiate a reaction between the on-demand expanding agent and water, wherein the activation temperature is greater than a formation temperature, reacting the on-demand expanding agent with water to produce a swelled agent, wherein the swelled agent occupies a greater volume than the on-demand expanding agent, and sealing the propagating cracks in the sensor-laden cement sheath with the swelled agent.

Provided are: a system for predicting the residual lifespan of a fire-damaged concrete structure and a method therefor, the system being capable of acquiring sample data by performing a chemical analysis on a sample obtained from the fire-damaged concrete structure, comparing the obtained sample data with data pre-stored in a standardization DB so as to quickly predict the residual lifespan of the fire-damaged concrete structure, and accurately and scientifically assessing the level of fire damage of the fire-damaged concrete structure so as to perform appropriate repair and reinforcement of the fire-damaged concrete structure.

A method for generating a calibration curve of asphalt concrete of a known mix. Initially, a single sample of the known asphalt concrete mix is obtained. The single sample has a known percent voids. A dielectric measurement of the single sample is obtained. Using only the dielectric measurement of the single sample, the sample's known percent voids, and a dielectric of air, a theoretical ideal dielectric for the asphalt concrete mix at 0% voids is computed. A dielectric vs. percent voids calibration curve is generated based on the computed ideal dielectric.

There is described a handheld inspection device for inspecting an infrastructure having a structure wall at least partially supported into material such as soil. The handheld inspection device generally has a portable frame; a high energy photon source mounted to said portable frame and having a radioactivity level below a threshold radioactivity level; a scattered photon detector mounted to said portable frame and having a field of view diverging towards said target region of said infrastructure and encompassing at least a portion thereof, said scattered photon detector detecting scatter events incoming from said target region during a given period of time, and generating a signal indicative of scatter events detected during said period of time; and a controller receiving said signal generated by said scattered photon detector; and generating an integrity indication associated to said target region of said infrastructure based on said received signal.

It is an object to provide a stress history measurement method and a stress sensor by which the stress history of an object being measured can be measured easily with high accuracy over a wide stress measurement range. In the stress history measurement method, the stress history to which the object being measured has been subjected is measured on the basis of the ratio of twinned calcite particles after the object to be measured has been subjected to an external force, the object having a stress sensor embedded therein and capable of being deformed elastically when being subjected to the external force, the sensor including a number of calcite particles. The stress sensor is configured such that a number of calcite particles are hardened by a resin with adjacent particles kept in contact with each other.

A screeding system for use with a screeding machine during screeding of an uncured concrete surface includes a control and a plurality of sensors. The sensors are disposed at the screeding machine, which has a screed head assembly that is movable over uncured concrete to screed the concrete surface. The sensors include elevation sensors that sense an elevation of the screed head assembly relative to a reference plane established at the concrete area. The control processes data captured by said plurality of sensors while the screeding machine is screeding the uncured concrete surface. Responsive to the data processing of captured data, the control estimates a flatness or levelness or quality of the surface of the concrete being screeded. While the screeding machine is screeding the uncured concrete surface, the control generates an output indicative of the estimated flatness or levelness or quality of the surface.

Concrete can be one of the most durable building materials and structures made of concrete can have a long service life. Consumption is projected to reach approximately 40 billion tons in 2017. Despite this the testing of concrete at all stages of its life cycle is still in its early stages although testing for corrosion is well established. Further many of the tests today are time consuming, expensive, and provide results only after it has been poured and set. Embodiments of the invention provide concrete suppliers, construction companies, regulators, architects, and others with rapid testing and performance data regarding the cure, performance, corrosion of concrete at different points in its life cycle based upon a simple electrical tests that remove subjectivity, allow for rapid assessment, are integrable to the construction process, and provided full life cycle assessment. Wireless sensors can be embedded from initial loading through post-cure into service life.

A method and a device for evaluating the distribution and orientation of ferromagnetic, electrically conductive fibres in a composite material are disclosed. The principle consists in repeatable evaluation of the density of ferromagnetic, electrically conductive fibres at the measured location, and such evaluation is performed within a guaranteed scatter range of the measured data and at a guaranteed accuracy rate. A device to perform the method comprises a C, U or E-shaped ferromagnetic core (1) with distributed or uniform winding of the electric coil (2), where the ferromagnetic core (1) exhibits dimensions A, B, and C, for which we have C≧3B and B≈A, where A denotes the width of an arm (1.2), B represents the depth of an arm (1.2), and C is the length of the base (1.1). The ferromagnetic core (1) is equipped with at least two electric coils (2) and, to ensure strong electromagnetic coupling on the ferromagnetic core (1), the winding of the electric coil (2) is configured on both arms of the ferromagnetic core (1). The leads of the electric coil (2) winding are, at the winding terminals (3), connected to an external electric circuit (17) including an electric voltage generator (16) with adjustable frequency f and a measuring device (18).