Have you ever wondered how people measure the strength or hardness of Concrete? 

There are some tools helpful in measuring strength, such as a Concrete Test Hammer. We are here to help you learn more about the Concrete Test Hammer here:

Concrete Test Hammer: What it is, Principle, Procedure, Advantages & Disadvantages: 

A concrete test hammer is a device that is used to measure the comprehensive strength of concrete. Let you know all about the concrete/Rebound test hammers, what it is, their working process, and their advantages, and disadvantages with the help of this article.

What is a Rebound Hammer?

The Rebound test hammer, also popularly understood as the Concrete Rebound Hammer Test, is a practical tool for testing the hardness of concrete. 

The principle behind the Rebound test hammer is that the more complex the concrete is, the more difficult it is for the hammer to rebound. 

A rebound hammer is also known as a Schmidt rebound test hammer is a valuable handheld mechanism for non-destructive testing of concrete. 

It helps determine the compressive strength of concrete by measuring the rebound height of a steel ball dropped onto the surface. 

In the Rebound Hammer test on concrete, the higher the rebound height, the higher the compressive strength of the concrete.

It is generally helpful as a non-destructive testing method for evaluating the compressive power of concrete. The test process is about hitting a metal plunger against the concrete exterior and calculating the rebound of the plunger using a spring-loaded device. 

You can perform the test on vertical or horizontal concrete surfaces and use it on other surfaces such as beams and columns.

Who Invented The Rebound Hammer?

“Ernst Heinrich Wilhelm Schmidt, a Swiss Civil Engineer, developed the rebound hammer. Schmidt developed the hammer in the late 1940s to test the strength of concrete.” 

The hammer became widely popular in the building and construction industry and is regardless of its effective use today.

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Objectives of the Rebound Hammer Test:

A rebound hammer test on concrete is an appropriate strategy to specify concrete’s compressive potency. It is commonly beneficial to test concrete beams and cores, which are also used to assess the quality of concrete. 

The test is carried out by striking the concrete with a hammer and measuring the hammer’s rebound using a calibrated spring. 

Later, it estimates the compressive potency of the concrete from the rebound data.

When to use the Rebound Hammer?

The rebound hammer test for concrete is considerably factual when the concrete hammer test is at least 28 days old, and it is an uncomplicated yet adequate tool that is useful to test concrete on site. It is easy to use and does not need special training.

The procedure for testing concrete with a test hammer is relatively simple. 

First, you need to place the hammer on the surface of the concrete. Then you can raise the tool, i.e., the hammer, and unleash it, tolerating it smashing the concrete and rebound. 

You must count the number of rebounds and figure it to specify the hardness of the concrete. 

Principle of Rebound Hammer Test:

The principle of the rebound hammer is that when it strikes a surface, it is proportional to the hardness of the surface.

You can perform the test by striking the surface of the concrete with a rebound hammer and measuring the hammer’s rebound. It requires a minimum of handling the standard of at least three readings as the compressive power of the concrete.

It is a speedy and uncomplicated way to specify the compressive strength of concrete and is widely applicable in the construction industry.

Non Destructive Concrete Testing with Concrete Testing Hammer:

Non-destructive concrete testing evaluates the solidity and grade of concrete without inducing any damage to the structure. 

A concrete strength test hammer is one of the most common tools helpful for this purpose, and it is simple to use. It is a handheld device that is useful for striking the surface of the concrete. 

A hammer test concrete measures the amount of force required to break the concrete, which can then help calculate the material’s compressive strength. It is a simple, quick, and easy way to test concrete without having to destroy the sample. 

Selection and Preparation of Test Areas:

Organizing the impact hammer test concrete exterior: 

• Before executing the test, it is necessary to verify that the concrete surface is smooth and neat. 
• Use a grinding wheel or stone to remove any crumbs of concrete that may have loosened when pouring the concrete. 
• One should deal with the Insufficient compaction, grout loss, or spalling that can also cause loose surfaces before conducting your tests. The hammer’s point of impact should not come within 20mm from the edge of any shape discontinuities. 
• Also, take six readings at each point on the concrete and take an average for each area to get one value per shape per test spot.

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3 Common Type of Concrete Test Hammers:

There are many kinds of concrete/ Rebound test hammers available in the market. Some of the most popular styles include the rebound hammer, Schmidt hammer, etc. 

Let us know about these here:

1. Schmidt/Smith Concrete Test Hammer: 

The Schmidt hammer is a less common type, but it is the most accurate. The smith hammer test works by measuring the force required to break the concrete. 

A Schmidt Test Hammer is a valuable means of testing concrete’s hardness. You can conduct the test by pressing the tip of the hammer against the surface of the concrete and then releasing it. 

You can estimate the consequent rebound of the hammer and utilize it to specify the hardness of the concrete.

2. Manual Rebound Test Hammer:

A manual rebound test hammer is a tool used to test the hardness of concrete, and it is also helpful in determining the thickness of concrete slabs. 

The manual rebound hammer test for concrete is easy to use and provides accurate results, and it is the most common type of rebound test hammer. This hammer works by measuring its rebound when it drops onto the concrete.

3. Digital concrete test hammer:

A digital concrete test hammer, a functional appliance, helps assess the compressive potency of concrete. A handheld machine delivers a collision to a substantial sample and then calculates the rebound using a digital sensor. 

The digital detector can provide a more precise reading than standard or conventional analog sensors. 

Engineers and quality control professionals use digital concrete test hammers to ensure that concrete meets the required strength specifications, and they are also helpful in troubleshooting factual quality issues.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Rebound Hammer Test:

If we talk about the merits and demerits of using such a device, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using rebound test hammers. 

Advantages:

• The test is quick and easy to perform. This test is simple, reducing the number of person-hours and budget needed. It’s also beneficial to evaluate the actual grade of concrete construction. 
• Furthermore, no costly fundamental examination of concrete conditions is performed, which is a cost-cutting benefit, particularly for projects that have maintenance problems. The results will generally be provided within 10 minutes.
• Additionally, the concrete test hammers are moderately reasonable in price. 

However, there are some disadvantages:

• One is that the test is only an indicator of hardness, not strength, and based on the results is on a single point and does not relate to its overall attributes.
• Additionally, it has probes and springs that one employs during these tests, which may need frequent maintenance to prevent them from breaking down after repeated use.

Factors Influencing Rebound Hammer Test:

Several factors can influence the rebound hammer test results, including the type of concrete, the age of the concrete, the surface’s texture, the moisture content, and the density of the concrete. 

• Usually, the compressive potency of concrete grows with age, so consequential that it is older and will naturally have a higher compressive strength than the newer concrete. 
• Additionally, concrete with a more coarse exterior texture will have more elevated compressive potency than concrete with a smoother exterior surface. 
• The moisture content and density of the concrete can also affect the test results, with higher moisture content and density typically resulting in lower compressive strength.
• The type of aggregate affects the rebound hammer test because the different aggregates have different densities which will affect the hammer’s rebound. 
• The type of cement affects the rebound hammer test because the different types of cement have different compressive strengths, affecting the hammer’s rebound.
• The curing and age of concrete affect the rebound hammer test because the concrete as a whole should cure for 28 days for the test to be accurate. 
• The carbonation of the concrete externals influences the rebound hammer test because the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will respond with the calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonate, which will decrease the compressive strength of the concrete.

Tesca Global Concrete Test Hammer:

If you are looking for a robust and accurate concrete hammer test, then Tesca can help you. 

Tesca Global is a company that specializes in manufacturing concrete test hammers. Their tools are helpful for onsite concrete testing, checking the strength of concrete structures and concrete composite materials, such as precast slabs, decks, bridges, and retaining walls. 

There are different products and designs for various purposes, like the lightweight design, which is meant for use when you need to test inside places that you can’t reach with a hammer drill. Some of these include the Digital hammer test, Schmidt hammer, and more. 

On the other hand, there is also a heavy-duty type that is useful on surfaces such as highways and bridges where it needs maximum force to crack the concrete so that you can check how firm that surface is.

Concrete test hammers price:

A Concrete test hammer’s price depends on your type of tool and its brand. The prices differ from one label to label, and so does the kind you choose. 

On average, it costs around INR 11,000 to INR 320000 approximately. 

Concrete test hammers Specification:

Some of the specifications of these products include:

• These are handy and reliable tools to test the quality of concrete. Our unique engineering design tests concrete hardness, compressive strength, and tensile strength. 
• These are creative, cost-effective, and precise solutions to a significant problem that has plagued the construction industry for years – inaccurate, inconsistent, and expensive concrete testing methods. 
• Tesca’s test hammers are high-quality steel robust tools that ensure long product life. These come with a comfortable grip and are light in weight for ease of use.
• These machines offer fast and accurate results that help determine the compressive strength of concrete, thereby delivering the best output.
• Tesca Global is a company that provides the best in class products, so if you are looking for a manufacturer that can offer you top-quality products within your budget, you can go for Tesca!

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