Abstract
In recent years, concrete channels subjected to frost damage in cold snowy regions have been repaired in a variety of ways. In pre-repair diagnosis, it is important to understand the depth of frost damage deterioration in concrete structures. As channels are long irrigation facilities requiring a high level of watertightness, it is not possible to frequently perform core sampling or other testing techniques that are considered useful but involve local destruction. Against this background, there is a need to establish a diagnostic method based on an efficient and effective non-destructive testing technique. In this study, the depth of frost damage deterioration in the sidewalls of concrete channels was estimated based on the surface scanning method, which is a non-destructive testing technique involving the use of ultrasonic waves. The results suggested a high likelihood that the depth of concrete surface damage could be estimated by measuring ultrasonic pulse velocity based on this method in cases where there were no minute cracks or other forms of damage inside the concrete structure. Moreover, the problems to establish a diagnostic method of the depth of frost damage deterioration that used the ultrasonic waves became clear.
