MATERIAL AND TESTS IN PHYSICS AND NDT

LABORATORY
PRESENTED AT THE DISSEMINATION TRAINING ON CONSTRUCTION
QUALITY CONTROL FOR MTRD ENGINEERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS AT
HEADQUARTERS AND REGIONAL LABORATORIES
PRESENTER: S.WAHOME
DATE:07/11/2019
 Physics Branch

Radiation application GENERAL

and NORMS TESTING-
NDT INSTRUMENTATI
safety & security of DESTRUCTIVE
radiation emitting
ON
TESTS
devices
INVENTORIZATI
O OF
structures LABORATORY
CONSTRUCTIO OTHER EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS(NON-
N MATERIALS CONSTRUCTION) Calibration &
validation

Bridges and other

drainage structures Buildings
REPAIR AND
MAINTENANCE
 COMMONLY TESTED MATERIALS IN PHYSICS LAB

 GUARDRAIL BEAMS,POSTS AND SPACERS

 GABION BOXES AND MATRESS
 ELASTOMERIC BRIDGE BEARINGS
 BRC MESH
 GEOSYNTHETICS
 BOLTS,NUTS AND WASHERS
 STEEL PLATES,HOLLOW SECTION,ANGLE SECTIONS,I-SECTIONS
 ROOFING SHEETS
 FENCING WIRE
 TIMBER
 TILES
 TEXTILES
 STATIONERY
 HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT
 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING

 IDEALLY SAMPLING METHODS SHOULD BE AS PER THE RELEVANT

STANDARDS
 HOWEVER THIS HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED STRICTLY AS WE
NORMALLY RECEIVE THE SAMPLES IN THE LAB AS DELIVERED BY
CONTRACTORS,CONSULTANTS,PMES,PMOS,MERCHANTS,PROMOTE-
RS ETC.
 FOR NEW TYPES OF MATERIAL WHERE WE LACK A PUBLISHED
STANDARD METHOD OF TESTING,WE DEVELOP AND DOCUMENT
OUR PROCEDURE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONCERNED
PARTIES
 COMMON NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
METHODS
 RADIOGRAPHY

Used to detect defects in weld assemblies

 HALF-CELL ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL
Used to Map out corrosion of Steel
reinforcement bars in concrete
 SCHMIDT/ REBOUND HAMMER TEST
Used to evaluate the strength of concrete
insitu.
 ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOCITY TEST
Uses velocity of sound in concrete to determine homogeneity,
Internal imperfections, compressive strength,modulus of
elasticity…..
It can also be used to determine depth of cracks on concrete
surfaces.
 INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY
used for detection of voids, delamination and other anomalies in
concrete ,water ingress points in buildings and bridge
decks,measurement of surface temperatures on objects.It can
also be used for detection of overheating along electrical conduits
and power boxes.
 NUCLEONIC GAUGING FOR MOISTURE AND DENSITY
DETERMINATION
 ELECTROMAGNETIC TESTING
Used for re-bar location and covers
 GROUND PENETRATING RADAR TESTING
To locate the presence and position of re-bars ,burried
objects, profiling compacted layers…
 TESTS DONE UNDER DESTRUCTIVE
TESTING

 Mechanical tests(yield strength,modulus of elasticity,ultimate tensile

strength,torsion,tear,bending,compression….
 Grammage
 Shrinkage
 Flame spread
 General performance tests
INSTRUMENTATION

 INVENTORIZATION
• The inventories at the head quarters have been verified and updated.
 CALIBRATION AND VALIDATION
• Currently we have the capacity to validate force and mass equipment-load cells and
standard masses have been calibrated by Kebs
• Calibration Services is awaiting accreditation from KENAS.
HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY
 NINETEEN(19) PHYSICISTS-17 newly employed
 EIGHT(8) TECHNOLOGISTS-5 newly employed
 TWO(2)TECHNICIANS- both newly employed
CHALLENGES
 Inadequate office space and furniture for new staff
 Inadequate ICT infrastructure for new staff.
.