Concrete NDT comprises testing a property of concrete, largely without damaging the concrete to assess some parameter which either directly or indirectly provides a required characteristic of the concrete or its embedment's.

Some Concrete NDT testing methods have been around for 30-50 years but have improved dramatically since the introduction of the PC: cover meter, Schmidt hammer (rebound hammer), potentials, polarization resistance, moisture measurement, maturity. Other concrete testing methods are less than 10 years old and have only become viable since micro computers allowed rapid data collection and assessment (impact echo, impulse response, ground penetrating radar). All of these are commercial techniques that can be applied to give very useful information in construction and assessment of old structures.

PCTE have a long history in the development and assessment of concrete testing equipment. Whilst Reuben Barnes heads the sales team from PCTE Sydney office he is supported by an expert team of NDT engineers. Apart from sales and hire PCTE can arrange training courses for your staff.

PCTE is the newly formed entity: Papworths Construction Testing Equipment Pty Ltd. PCTE now handles all of the equipment sales and hire that Papworths Pty Ltd used to. This is purely a name change and you will enjoy all of the services that you have in the past.

PCTE team have an extensive background in concrete Non-destructive testing (concrete NDT). 30 years ago Frank Papworth was involved in assessing ultrasonic's and gamma ray backscatter as a means of detecting defects in concrete. He also worked as part of a team developing corrosion assessment methods for marine structures.

Techniques such as potentials, resistivities and polarization resistance were evaluated as part of the Concrete in the Oceans programme in the UK and published in “Tongue Sands Tower Survey” the report of a major seminar at the Institution of Engineers UK in 1980. The team under Frank Papworth developed the first “Potential Wheel” and concrete four probe resistivity equipment. Many of these techniques have become common place today. But PCTE are still at the fore front of concrete NDT. For example Tony Zheng has joined the team as an “Advanced NDT” expert. These methods include impact echo, ground penetrating radar and impulse response.

Whatever the concrete NDT equipment you require, whether you want to hire or buy, talk your needs over with PCTE first.