Evaluation of Concrete Structures by the Acoustic Tomography Technique

This study is concerned with the acoustic tomography method, using measurements of primary wave (P-wave) travel time. In the first step, the principle of the technique is described. Then, the ability of this technique to assess the quality of concrete dams is discussed through two field surveys. It is shown that the acoustic tomography technique enables the evaluation of a large volume of material compared to other conventional nondestructive testing technologies. The benefit of this technique is more evident in identifying the location of anomalous zones that require further investigation and/or restoration work.