Concrete Object Anomaly Detection Using a Nondestructive Automatic Oscillating Impact-Echo Device

Abstract

The goal of this study was to develop an impact-echo device that can conduct automatic oscillation tests, process signals rapidly, and apply it to concrete object anomaly analysis. The system presented in this study comprises three parts, namely the impact device, the oscillator circuit, and signal processing software. The design concept of the impact-echo device was inspired by a pendulum clock, and its implementation used a nondestructive wooden hammer instead of a conventional manual steel hammer. In this study, we used a pulse generator in the adjustable oscillator circuit to produce delayed changes. The delayed changes would activate the wooden hammer that struck the surface of the object. To process the signal, our lab used a built-in sound card in the computer to transfer the reflection soundwave from striking the wall to MATLAB software to analyze the energy of the frequency spectrum. This was conducted to evaluate whether the object contained anomalies and, if so, to determine the location of the anomalies to serve as a reference for real-life implementation.