Sunday, December 29, 2013

Finding Underground Utilities



Whether you are going to be digging around your home for house renovation functions or you are in requirement of repairs on your septic system, you will desire to make sure that you understand where any of your underground utility detection. Not finding the underground energies prior to digging might trigger a harmful scenario or expense you an entire lot more money in repairs.

For the most part, you are going to see that colored lines or flags are utilized to help mark the location or to denote the presence of particular kinds of underground utilities. In case of a flag, there is often a logo design that is on it that will inform the municipal utility or company that have actually utilities set up beneath.

Whether it is wires below the ground, lawn sprinkler or piping, it is very important that they are effectively marked to help stop any opportunity of a mishap from happening. These location approaches are crucial in case there is any sort of absence of information on outdated maps in the area. When you have the underground energies appropriately marked, you are going to have the ability to determine exactly where they are so that the correct amount of clearance can be offered to help cover all bases.

54 Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach,
QLD
4218
Contact us: 0426 508 755

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Concrete Scanning Can Identify Metal Objects Underground



In any excavation project, if underground objects can be detected, a great deal of trouble, money and time can be saved. A technology called GPR, or ground penetrating radar, can perform a subsurface imaging scan in order to provide the evaluation of a site prior to beginning the excavation.

This scanning system can locate utilities that are buried underground, obstacles and debris, bedrock, old foundations and other underground debris. The technology specializes in finding both metallic and non-metallic utilities including copper, PVC, concrete and plastic pipes and in addition various conduits that in many cases can not be detected in any other way.

This is an ideal way to locate the position of buried utilities, storage tanks, drums, and man made items such as old roads, runways and underground buildings using the exciting technology. Obvious, if you discover a utility line that is underground, and for some reason it is not on anyone's map or chart, you will be glad that you uncovered it.

The process is not hazardous to the operator of the machine doing the scanning, as it emits only 1 % of the power of a cell phone signal.

The system operates by the sending of a small pulse of energy into a material through an antenna. The strength and the time that the signal takes to return to the device will create reflections that are then picked up by the recovery system and stored on digital media. The reproductions then come out as visual replications of the object, such as man-made objects of pipes, wire, tanks, and the like.

When it comes to locating and identifying non-metallic and metallic objects of various sizes and shapes, this system is very accurate.

GPR has been in existence for the past 40 years, and of course there have been improvements over the years, but it has saved many an excavation project precious time and money by its availability.

54 Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach,
QLD
4218
Contact us: 0426 508 755

Monday, December 9, 2013

Easy Ways to Measure the Thickness of a Concrete Can Help to Ensure Quality and Forecast Problems During Any Modifications to a Slab



Engineers quite often find the need to measure the thickness of a concrete slab, when they require making some modifications to the slab. They may also need such information when they are planning any additions, or have doubts about the structural stability of the slab to bear present or future loads. When a non destructive method of measuring the thickness of a concrete slab can be of great advantage, this is.




Such non destructive testing enables the information to be obtained without having to conduct on site breaking of a slab or even taking cores to get the information. This reduces any need for future repairs to the damaged portion of the slab, which is in a sense weakened by such actual breaking of the concrete. One of the most common of these devices uses ultrasonic frequencies or other systems that propagate vibrations.

The vibration generator produces frequencies varying from 1,000 c/s to 4,000 c/c and these are made to act vertically on the slab whose thickness is required. These vibrations are detected by a pick-up device, which is then moved around till the vibrations of the generator and those detected in the pickup are in phase. These measuring devices are all hand held and battery powered, which makes their use very versatile and allows their use in the most restricted of situations.

Concrete slab measurements are quite often required to ensure quality control in pavements, tunnel linings and other structures that have a continuous plate. These instruments are calibrated using them on slabs whose thicknesses are known and confirmed. Both thin and thick slabs can be measured, and while for thin slabs the range that can be detected varies from 2.8 t0o 22 inches, when the thick mode is used, slabs can be between 10 and 60 inches.

Quality assurance and control engineers use these devices constantly in pavements and linings that are difficult to measure after the work is in place, because one side of the slab is no more approachable or visible once the work is completed. Frequently when holes are needed to be drilled in existing slabs to introduce additional services, these devices may be used in conjunction with rebar locators so that the any drilling that is done is done with the full knowledge of what is likely to be encountered during the operation.

Engineers quite often find the need to measure the thickness of a concrete slab, when they require making some modifications to the slab. These instruments are calibrated using them on slabs whose thicknesses are known and confirmed. Both thick and thin slabs can be measured, and while for thin slabs the range that can be detected varies from 2.8 t0o 22 inches, when the thick mode is used, slabs can be between 10 and 60 inches.

C.S.I. Concrete Scanning & Investigation
54 Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach,
QLD
4218
Contact us: 0426 508 755

Concrete Strength and Density Testing Is Very Important to Determine the Safety of Reinforced Concrete Structures



Concrete is such a versatile material that it is very extensively used to build many structures, whether they are for residences, commercial properties, factories, bridges, dams, roads or any structure that requires a durable and strong material. This makes the strength of the concrete being used very vital to ensure the safety of structures.

Most engineers prefer the concrete strength testing during the production stage. The mix of the concrete is decided by earlier testing of the various ingredients that will be used to make the concrete. Designing the concrete mix which will give the weights or volumes of the various materials, like aggregates and cement is done on an empirical basis. These mixes are then made in the laboratory where the desired strength and density of the concrete is then tested. The accepted standards required by the designers, allow this concrete mix to be then suggested to the engineers carrying out the construction. It is then a responsibility of the construction engineers to ensure that the concrete that is manufactured and poured reaches the required strength and density as required by the laboratory and designers.

Normal construction procedures require that samples of the concrete being used is poured into molds to form blocks that can be used to test the strength of the concrete that has been poured into the structure. Concrete gathers strength over time and standards have been set that requires certain strengths to be developed by the concrete over periods of 3, 7 and 28 days.

The weight of each block is then taken to arrive at the density of the concrete. The block is then subjected to compressive stresses in testing machines to arrive at its strength. This strength is the one obtained when the block is tested to destruction. A number of blocks are taken for each batch of concrete, while tabs are also kept on where this particular batch has been used in the structure. These strengths of all the tested blocks and their densities are noted. They are required to be as per the strengths suggested by laboratory recommendations.

At times, when the tests show results below what is required, engineers may prefer to go in for other non destructive tests to establish the strength and density of the concrete. There are various methods like rebound hammers, and ultrasonic testing that are in wide use. In very rare cases, quality control engineers may insist on actual load testing of the structure by using dead weight or hydraulic forces and checking that the deflection caused is within accepted standards.



The mix of the concrete is decided by earlier testing of the various ingredients that will be used to make the concrete. Normal construction procedures require that samples of the concrete being used is poured into molds to form blocks that can be used to test the strength of the concrete that has been poured into the structure. Concrete gathers strength over time and standards have been set that requires certain strengths to be developed by the concrete over periods of 3, 7 and 28 days. At times, when the tests show results below what is required, engineers may prefer to go in for other non destructive tests to establish the strength and density of the concrete.

54 Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach,
QLD
4218
Contact us: 0426 508 755

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Location of Rebar in a Reinforced Concrete Structure Is Very Important While Carrying out Modifications



Concrete has a very high compressive strength compared to its tensile strength which is very low. It is possible to increase this tensile strength by introducing rebar in to concrete to make a reinforced concrete structure which can then take both compressive and tensile stresses and make for structures that have strength and durability.



Concrete lends itself very easily to be molded into any shape that is desired, because when it is first manufactured it is in a plastic state, which over a short period of time hardens, while continually developing strength. CSI finds rebar etc in concrete to reinforced concrete needs to be put at very specific locations so that it allows the structure to have the required tensile strength. This is done by using spacers and other devices to lock rebar into the specific required locations, which remain so, even when the fluid concrete is poured into the formwork that makes up the shape of the desired structure. It can be in columns, walls, beams, slabs or any shape desired. Building codes determine the distance this rebar needs to be at from the surface of the concrete. Rebar is made of steel which is vulnerable to rust from atmospheric conditions. This is why rebar needs to be kept at a certain distance within the concrete to prevent any rust formation. Rust formation can cause rebar to lose its form and strength and thus affect the strength of the reinforced concrete structure.

When this requires the concrete structure to be drilled through or partially, it is very important to make sure that any such modification is not hampered by the presence of the rebar. It then becomes very important to know the exact position of the rebar, so that any drilling or breaking done does not come across a rebar.

Technologies are available that allow the location of the rebar in concrete to be pinpointed, without any necessity for damaging the concrete to locate the rebar. These concrete scanning operations use ground penetrating radar to locate rebar. This allows the exact location for the rebar to be established so that any subsequent operations can avoid damaging them. There are times, when a structure is showing signs of distress, and at such times one of the first things that engineers do is check on the position of the rebar, as any shift from previously designed parameters can lead to weaker structures. Location of rebar in concrete can help engineers to assess the soundness of a structure.

Rust formation can cause rebar to lose its form and strength and thus affect the strength of the reinforced concrete structure.

It then becomes very important to know the exact position of the rebar, so that any drilling or breaking done does not come across a rebar. Technologies are available that allow the location of the rebar in concrete to be pinpointed, without any necessity for damaging the concrete to locate the rebar.

C.S.I. Concrete Scanning & Investigation
54 Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach,
QLD
4218
Contact us: 0426 508 755

The Precise Exit Point Location Using Hilti PX10



Many times it can become difficult to find the right entry and exit points without causing damage and/or ruining the entire project. They ensure the job is done right and the Hilti PX10 is one of the best solutions on the market for this. Let's take a look at how one can find the right exit point location using the Hilti PX10.

Transmitter

The transmitter ensures the right exit point location is found each and every time. All one has to do is place it properly and make sure it is turned on.

It makes the entire process easier and one can start working on the solution without causing unfortunate damage that is difficult to come back from.

Thickness

When trying to determine the appropriate exit point location, this is an important part of the process. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to adjudge the thickness of the concrete. This can lead to a poor choice of drill bits when it comes to drilling into the core.

With this device, one is able to place it with the proper alignment and get the right evaluation on how thick the concrete is at the. This makes the entire process easy to complete as the exit point location can be achieved using the appropriate drill bit made for the determined thickness.

Assessment

The final part of the process comes in the assessment portion of the device. It makes sure one is able to find the right alignment each and every time, while transmitting the information across the screen.


This makes sure the individual is able to make the right choices and decisions prior to completing the task at hand. There are no worries of not being able to find the right exit location and this is used by many professionals as a tool to drill into concrete. The results are always positive with this device.

Many times it can become difficult to find the right entry and exit points without causing damage and/or ruining the entire project. Let's take a look at how one can find the right exit point location using the Hilti PX10.

The transmitter ensures the right exit point location is found each and every time. There are no worries of not being able to find the right exit location and this is used by many professionals as a tool to drill into concrete.

54 Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach,
QLD
4218
Contact us: 0426 508 755