Embedded Access Tubes for Non-Destructive Concrete Inspection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current inspection methods for casted or additive manufactured materials, such as concrete structures, are costly, time-consuming, and destructive, often requiring excavation and drilling, which can cause structural damage and pose safety risks, especially in hazardous environments, and do not allow for comprehensive internal evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A pre-installed system with internal and external tubes or channels is integrated into the structure during construction, allowing for non-destructive, in-depth physical, visual, and chemical inspection and sampling, using tools like borescopes and directional drills through access points that do not require excavation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If excavation is conducted around the structure for inspection, then external assessment can be performed, but structural stability is compromised and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
Access tubes are pre-installed during the construction phase of the structure, before any inspection is needed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for later excavation, as the inspection pathways are already in place. The tubes are embedded in the structure during pouring, creating permanent access points that do not compromise structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The access tubes serve as intermediaries between the external inspection environment and the internal structure. Instead of directly excavating to reach internal components, inspectors use these pre-installed tubes as mediating pathways to insert inspection tools and retrieve samples, thereby avoiding direct structural disturbance.
2Measurement precision
If holes are drilled or cored in the structure for internal examination, then internal inspection is enabled, but the structure is damaged and additional repairs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The access tubes are installed during the construction phase, before the structure is put into service. This preliminary placement eliminates the need for later drilling or coring operations, as the inspection pathways are already established. The tubes are positioned and secured during pouring, creating permanent access points that require no additional structural modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection functionality is extracted from the main structure by using separate, pre-installed access tubes. These tubes are distinct elements that provide inspection capability without being integral load-bearing components. By separating the inspection function into dedicated tubes, the main structure remains undamaged and retains its full structural integrity.
3Measurement precision
If excavation and drilling are performed for comprehensive inspection, then internal and external assessment is improved, but time consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
All access pathways are prepared during construction, eliminating the need for time-consuming field preparation work. The tubes are installed once during pouring, and then serve indefinitely for multiple inspection cycles. This preliminary action transforms a repetitive, time-intensive process into a quick, repeatable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system is segmented into multiple access tubes positioned at different locations and orientations throughout the structure. This segmentation allows inspectors to simultaneously assess different regions or to perform comprehensive inspections by accessing multiple points, significantly reducing total inspection time compared to single-point drilling methods.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for condition assessment of a formed material include a testing tube in contact with the formed material. An access tube is in contact with the formed material and with a testing end open to the testing tube. A tube cap is located at a cap end of the access tube. The cap end is opposite the testing end of the access tube. The access tube has an internal bore sized to provide passage for a testing tool.