Papworths Construction Testing Equipment

  Concrete is a significant construction material that gets used in every structure. Construction experts prefer concrete to make the stronger foundations and the walls that are supposed to bear more loads. Even though it guarantees a sturdy construction, moisture can cause negative impacts on it. Moisture usually buildup on the walls that do not have exposure to air and sunlight as it cannot dry on its own! To avoid all the risks and to better protect the structure, experts keep an eye on the moisture buildup by using the concrete moisture meter . These meters give accurate readings of the moisture buildup in the concrete slab and let the expert take necessary measures on time to avoid any potential troubles. How does concrete moisture meter work? It is a non-destructive testing procedure in which the change in the material capacitance helps determine the moisture content. The material under test gets infused with a high-frequency electrical signal. The variation in the capa...

  Ensuring safety is one of the crucial aspects of the construction industry. Thus, it is significant to do extensive quality control and test everything before building a structure. As the durability of a building depends largely on its foundation, it is vital to check the soil type before anything else. Experts use different types of equipment like the soil extensometer to determine how the soil moves and if it is wise to set up a structure over it! What is a soil extensometer?   It is the equipment that consists of sensory assembly that have flanges mounted with necessary parts like adjustment unit, adaptors, sockets and extension rods. All these parts make up for a soil extensometer that can measure the displacement of the soil in the horizontal direction. There are anchors placed at different positions that help measure the incremental movement of the soil. Working of a soil extensometer The working principle of a soil extensometer is to measure displacement. Th...

  Reconstructions or renovations are much more challenging than constructing the structure from scratch. When you are keeping the foundation intact, there are a lot of factors you need to keep in consideration. You have to focus on keeping the utilities like drainage, water pipes, metallic and non-metallic materials safe so that you don’t end up in a complicated mess. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, the people working at the construction site need to locate the utilities under the surface. The equipment that helps a great deal in all such tasks is the ground penetrating radar, GPR . Let us discuss how it works: Working of a ground penetrating radar The GPR works on the electromagnetic wave scattering principle. The equipment sends the electromagnetic energy into the ground at a frequency ranging from 1 to 1000 MHz. the signals travel through the soil and reflect upon striking a hard surface. This hard surface can be the water pipes, cables, metallic or non-metallic ...

  In the construction industry, cutting, drilling, and restructuring are usual practices. It is significant to understand the condition of the surface layer and know what all is there under that surface to make construction-related decisions. There can be water pipes, electric connections and drainage systems underneath, and any damage to these can lead to complicated results. Because of all these reasons, it is vital to scan the concrete layer, for which you require the concrete scanning equipment . This machine provides you with the required details. Furthermore, it presents an image of how things are placed under the ground. There are different types of concrete scanning equipment available in the market which you can use to ease the load of decision making! Benefits of buying the concrete scanning equipment Before investing in a machine, it is ideal to know if you can benefit from it. Hence, we have listed some of the advantages of the equipment used for concrete scannin...

  Ground Penetrating Radar , abbreviated for GPR. It is a piece of equipment used to locate the utilities like water pipes, electric cables, and more under the ground level. It proved fruitful in renovation projects, where you want to give a new look and feel to the building without causing any harm to the existing connections. It is a new geophysical technique that gives reliable results that prove fruitful in construction-related decisions. History of GPR It was back in 1904 when Christian Hulsmeyer found the first patent in radar technology and laid the foundation of radar systems. After six years, another group of physicists used radar technology to locate objects buried deep under the earth. They used surface antennas and wave radar to get the results during this process. Since then, nobody asked for the patent or worked on radar systems for any application. Later in the 1970s, a different team of scientists took the work ahead and started using them for various military...

  The coating is generally the outermost layer over a surface that protects it from physical damages and other environmental factors. For example, in the case of metals, outer layer of coating help prevent rust, and in the automobile industry, paint protects the vehicle from stains and scratches. This way, there are various uses of a coating in different products! As there is a lot of significance of the outer coating layer, measuring its thickness help take many decisions. The device used for this purpose is the coating thickness gauge . It accurately determines how thick the outermost layer is. Based on this calculation, the experts can find out: ·              How efficient this coating will prove to protect the surface from environmental factors. ·              The lifespan of the structure over which the coating is put. If the paint is fresh, the surfac...

The quality of concrete depends mainly on its temperature. It sets at a particular temperature and cures at another. If these temperature conditions are not maintained, the concrete will not be set correctly. Moreover, as concrete is the building block of the foundation, its instability shall hamper the entire construction. As a result, measuring and monitoring concrete temperature is a crucial activity. The minimum temperatures while pouring and curing concrete should be 40- and 50-degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.   Monitoring the concrete temperature becomes essential in places with extreme climates. Even if the ideal temperature range is artificially created, the weather extremities can modify them. Nevertheless, we hope we managed to give a brief on concrete quality.   Concrete temperature monitoring   plays a vital role in such cases. It ensures that the concrete is set accurately.  It imparts longevity and durability to the construction. Improper o...

Ground Penetrating Radar, or GPR, is a technique to study the patterns under the surface. In this method, radar pulses penetrate the interior and are struck on the surface. The material inside can reflect, refract, or scatter these pulses, basically microwaves in the electromagnetic band. GPR does not involve destroying the surface and thus is part of NDT (Non-Destructive Testing). Therefore, it is deemed more efficient as it saves time, cost, and effort to bring the surface back to normality.  We have mentioned below some features and applications of this technique. If you are interested in using or purchasing  GPR equipment, you shall find these details helpful. Continue reading-   GPR   is primarily used to study the presence and volume of concrete, pipes, masonry, metals, cables, etc., in the subsurface.  The frequency range that a  GPR   tool emits lies between 10 MHz and 2.6GHz.  The system comprises a t...

  Coatings are a clear impression of the quality of a product. It signifies how well it can protect the material from the outside factors, keeping it functional. Usually, the paint coating thickness gets measured in different industries to determine the life of the material under test. For example, in the construction industry, the coating thickness meter helps determine the structure's durability and figure out if there is a need for urgent maintenance work. One of the reasons experts prefer using a thickness meter is that it is non-destructive testing equipment. They do not have to chip or damage the material or product under question in any manner, and the readings are accurate enough for decision making. In addition, the principle on which the equipment works is electromagnetic induction, and it is efficient in measuring the thickness of magnetic and non-magnetic surfaces. Benefits of using coating thickness meter There are countless benefits of using a coating thickness...

  It is vital to know the location of utilities under the ground before carrying out a new construction or planning renovations. This information is significant to ensure that the construction project doesn't turn into a mess. Any disturbance in these connections can affect the entire structure and create chaos. Thus, the experts use different strategies to understand the location of these utilities and plan the construction accordingly. Out of all the non-destructive and destructive methods, using the ground penetrating radar is an ideal option. This equipment uses electromagnetic waves to locate the utilities and give a clear image of things under the ground surface. The device has a control unit, an antenna, and a power source to get a clear picture. It sends electromagnetic waves into the ground, and when these waves detect a utility, it reflects to the source. Things you can detect with the ground-penetrating radar Cracks or Flaws If there are any cracks or flaws in t...

  Measuring coating thickness is critical when determining the applied thickness of a waterproofing membrane on materials like concrete or when meeting minimum paint or coating thickness based on industry standards. Accurate measurements are easier to obtain with a  coating thickness meter , which provides a non-destructive way to determine coating thickness on plastic, concrete, or wood surfaces. It doesn’t require taking a sample back to the lab, making it convenient for on-site testing. One of the most versatile products you can use is the ultrasonic  coating thickness meter . It emits a high-frequency sound pulse that goes into the coating through a coupling gel and reflects from a surface with a different density. Here are more features you can expect from this gauge.   Accurate and easy to use   The meter is ready to measure without needing calibration and can be operated with one hand. The flashing display makes it easy to use in noisy environments....

Paint thickness gauges are paint meters that measure dry film thickness – a critical criterion in several industrial applications. Measuring the dry paint film thickness helps estimate the expected appearance, performance, and life. Paint coat thickness is also measured to adhere to international standards.  Paint meters or coating thickness gauges are non-destructive measuring equipment with several options. Digital paint coat thickness meters facilitate the measurement of the paint coat thickness on substrates such as non-ferrous metals.    Importance of paint thickness in industrial applications In several manufacturing processes, the paint coating thickness is critical for maintaining performance and durability. Specialised paint coatings are applied for protection, aesthetics, longevity, and improving mechanical functions.   A paint thickness gauge  can help conform to customer specifications or government regulations for a product. Paints ...

Pore water pressure is measured in the soil, earth/rockfill foundations, and concrete structures using a vibrating wire piezometer. The quantity and circulation pattern of groundwater are determined by measuring pore water pressure. It is also used to estimate how water flows in earth/rockfill & concrete dams the soil or rock's load-bearing capacity.   The  VW piezometer   is used to measure positive or negative pore pressure in the soil, concrete, or rock for construction control, stability analysis, and monitoring of earth dams, embankments, foundations, shallow subsurface works, and surface excavations as well as foundations, embankments, abutments, and fills. It is also used to uplift pore pressure gradients and water supply operations, groundwater elevation study, and hydrological inquiry.   How does it operate?   A magnetic, high tensile strength, stretched wire makes up the vibrating wire piezometer. The one end of this wire is tied to a...

  Concrete is the backbone of construction industry. Whether it is a dam or a residential building, concrete is often used to create the foundation for a structure. Often, a hardness test is needed to check whether this structural element can take the load of the entire construction. Thus, concrete testing equipment is used on the construction sites for testing hardness and other properties. Functions of concrete testing equipment There are different kinds of tests done on a construction site. These tests are done by the engineers and technicians using a specialize set of equipment. Here is the list of tests done on-site. ·            Fresh concrete testing This test checks the quality and workability of concrete before being used in advance structural application such as high-rise construction, long distant project like pavement and road. ·            Concrete strength te...

Rebar is used for reinforcing concrete in daily construction project. A rebar system provides tension strength for concrete structure. There is a typical scenario when civil engineers and technicians must locate the rebar system in the concrete. This is where a rebar locator come in the construction industry. The reason for civil engineers and technicians to locate rebar in the concrete are varied from ensure NDT testing result or planning a drill or cutting in a structure. The position of the rebar must be clear in these types of situations, or it can leave to expensive repair process later. Obviously, destroying the concrete cover is not an option thus a locator is essential for non-destructive examination (NDE) tests. Accuracy of rebar locators For the reason above, rebar can only be checked using NDT (non-destructive testing) methods. Rebar comprises of iron and other ferromagnetic ingredients. This means that the best methods to locating rebar in concrete is using electroma...

  Paint thickness gauges are paint meters that measure dry film thickness – a critical criterion in several industrial applications. Measuring the dry paint film thickness helps estimate the expected appearance, performance, and life. Paint coat thickness is also measured to adhere to international standards.  Paint meters or coating thickness gauges are non-destructive measuring equipment with several options. Digital paint coat thickness meters facilitate the measurement of the paint coat thickness on substrates such as non-ferrous metals.    Importance of paint thickness in industrial applications In several manufacturing processes, the paint coating thickness is critical for maintaining performance and durability. Specialised paint coatings are applied for protection, aesthetics, longevity, and improving mechanical functions.   A paint thickness gauge  can help conform to customer specifications or government regulations for a product. ...