Development and validation of an impact elastic wave method for non-destructive concrete strength evaluation

Abstract Concrete strength testing plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and durability of infrastructure structures. However, traditional methods such as core sampling are destructive, time-consuming, and costly, which limits their efficiency for on-site applications. To address these challenges, this study investigates the applicability of the impact elastic wave (IEW) method for the non-destructive evaluation of concrete strength. Field validation experiments were conducted at multiple engineering sites, including the Zhangjiajie–Jishou–Huaihua high-speed railway tunnel and several bridge projects, where the strength values obtained from the IEW method were compared with those from the core sampling method. The results showed a strong linear correlation between the two methods, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.92, relative errors within 10 percent for most samples, and an average absolute error of approximately 8 megapascals. These findings demonstrate that the IEW method is a reliable, efficient, and non-destructive approach for assessing concrete strength and has broad potential for application in rapid and standardized quality evaluation of concrete structures.