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The paper presents the results of studies of a total of 11 series of self-compacting concrete, which were modified with different amounts of the following nanoparticle additives: SiO 2 , TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 , and also a reference concrete without the addition of nanoparticles. The study included the rheological properties of concrete mixes and the physical and mechanical properties of a hardened self-compacting concrete. The characteristics of air pores obtained using a computer image analyser and analysis of a microstructure with the use of a computer microtomograph are also presented. The paper contains the results of tests of compressive strength, flexural strength, hardness and elastic modulus, which were obtained using the nanoindentation technique. The obtained results were analyzed and commented on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of multi-sensor evaluation of the concrete within the interphase between overlay and existing substrate with regard to pull-off adhesion. It has been shown that both the effective surface area of the existing concrete substrate and the contribution of the exposed aggregate on this substrate, as a result of concrete substrate surface treatment, have a significant impact on pull-off adhesion. The highest adhesion was obtained when the surface of the existing concrete substrate was shot-blasted. This method of surface treatment provides both a high coarseness of the surface of the existing concrete substrate and considerable exposure of the aggregate on this surface. In order to clarify why this method of surface treatment of existing concrete substrate is advantageous with regard to the possibility of obtaining high adhesion, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used. SEM microstructural analysis was performed on concrete cubic specimens taken from the interphase zone between the overlay and existing concrete substrate. The results of these studies, including the contact type between the overlay made of cement mortar and the existing concrete substrate, are presented in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology for the non-destructive location and identification of cracks in unilaterally accessible massive concrete walls by means of the state-of-the-art acoustic methods of impulse response and ultrasound tomography. An example of the practical verification of the methodology used to investigate the concrete structure of a hydroelectric power plant is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]