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The 4th International Conference NDT-CE was held at Liverpool from 8th to 11th of April 1997. The Conference was organised by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing and co-sponsored by the University of Liverpool, the DGZfP (German N.D.T. Institute), the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Highways and Transportation, the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Concrete Society.
The chairman of the programme committee was Professor J. H. Bungey - University of Liverpool, assisted by Professor O Buyukozturk - MIT, Professor M. C. Forde - University of Edinburgh, Professor A. Long - The Queens University, Belfast, Dr. S. G. Millard - University of Liverpool, Dr. M. N. Soutsos - University of Liverpool, Professor Dr. T. Oumoto - University of Tokyo and Dr. H. Wiggenhauser, B.A.M. The Conference Proceedings, edited by Professor Bungey, contain 64 papers in 2 volumes and represent the mainstream of Civil Engineering applications to buildings, bridges, tunnels and similar structures made from concrete, masonry and steel and to highway pavements. The papers reflect the current state-of-the-art of NDT methods used in the condition assessment of structures and in building diagnostics and encompass recent research into the application of non-destructive techniques for the in-situ assessment of properties of building components. The international nature of the contributions was reflected by the fact that the authors came from 22 countries from 5 continents. |  |
The Conference was attended by more than 70 delegates. Fifty-two of the delegates presented lectures. Twelve sessions were held which were chaired by experts of NDT on the following subjects:
- Ultrasonics
- Radar
- Concrete Performance
- Corrosion/Cover
- Integrity Assessment
- Building Performance
- Component Performance
- Roads/Pavements/Moisture.
Each of the lectures was followed by an active discussion and a vivid exchange of experience. During the breaks NDT equipment and instruments instruments of different manufacturers were exhibited and presented in the entrance hall.
In his opening lecture Dipl.-Ing. C. Flohrer (HochTief) stressed the growing interest of the building industry in NDT techniques. He emphasised that reliability and precision of results were most essential which could only be achieved by an even closer cooperation between NDT experts and civil engineers, by strengthening standardisation work and by training qualified personnel. Repeated measurements were required as one single false result might discredit the entire method. Mr. Flohrer emphasised the engagement of HochTief, Europe's biggest civil engineering company, in improving NDT methods in civil engineering by citing several examples, i.a. location of cracks in joints of underwater concrete structures by means of the impact echo method and identification of reinforcements of tendon ducts by means of a radar-controlled instrument.
The main lecturer Professor O. Buyukozturk (MIT) stressed the importance of standardisation work and advocated the development of more efficient measurement methods, e.g. the use of an array of radar antennae at high frequencies in connection with model and reconstruction algorithms.
Another highlight was the presentation of the results of ultrasonic examinations of concrete to locate tendon ducts and grouting faults in tendon ducts. The method developed in BAM VII.31 of a non-contact ultrasonic examination with a laser vibrometer is now also being used by other researchers. Different applications of SAFT reconstructions were also presented.
A noticeable number of research reports on the fundamentals of radar applications in building construction was presented. In addition, several examples of practical applications were described. In the radar session a progress report was given on the BriteEuRam project Sub-surface Radar as a Tool for Non-destructive Testing and Assessment in the Construction and Building Industries (RADAR) which was started last year and in which the BAM also participates. The Concrete Society in the UK indicated that guidelines for radar measurements as an NDT tool in civil engineering will shortly be published.
A number of contributions revealed that a combination of different test methods will essentially improve the interpretation of results. It was also reported that numerical and statistical methods were applied to project and interpret measurements.
Professor Bungey (University of Liverpool) summarised the main highlights of the conference. He felt that NDT methods would be more widely accepted if education and training could be improved and by constantly updating documentations. Interest in tomographic and imaging methods in general would be rising. He also advocated more standardisation. While the interest in NDT methods in building construction is rising, trouble shooting still seems to be the main task. Professor Bungey stated that small test companies would be required and felt that the NDT Society could play a key role in this respect. Finally he announced the Fifth International NDT Conference in Civil Engineering to be held in Japan in 2000.
Professor T. Oumoto also invited the participants to attend this conference which is going to be organised in Tokyo in April 2000.
The accompanying programme was equally well organised as the conference programme. On the evening of the second day of the conference the participants were invited to visit the Merseyside Maritime Museum in the Albert Docks. On the following evening the conference dinner was held in the Derby and Rathbone Hall which was attended by all delegates and the representatives of the universities and the British Institute of NDT. Thanks are due to the organisers of the conference for their excellent preparation and the successful organisation.