Measuring reinforcement coating thickness
Restoration of reinforced concrete buildings

Armatures are quite commonly located using devices (profometers, pachometers) based on the principle of metal detectors. These devices are sensitive to the influence exerted by a metal object on the magnetic fields it creates. But more sophisticated techniques have been the subject of research in recent years. A microwave imaging system for non-destructive testing of metal reinforcements has been designed by the LCPC (Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées) and a team from the CNRS/ESE (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / École Supérieure d'Électricité) [5] . This new technique uses the reflected microwave electric field to form cross-sectional images (microwave tomography) of the medium under investigation. It is thus possible to obtain images with sub-centimeter resolution, in both directions of the section...