Method of mapping steel reinforcements in concrete foundations

• US 7,548,192 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FDH Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fdh Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Holt, J. Darrin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US12/027,503
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/22, 342/27, 342 82-103, 342/175, 342/176, 342/179, 342190-197, 342 25 R- 25 F, 367/87, 367/88, 367 99-116, 175/24, 175/26, 175/40, 175/45, 702/5, 702/127, 702/189
• US Class Current: 342/191
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

A method of mapping steel reinforcements in an existing concrete foundation. The method includes determining the depth of the concrete foundation. Further the method entails transmitting radar signals into at least one section of the concrete foundation and collecting reflection data in response to the radar signals being transmitted into the concrete foundation. Based on the collected reflection data, determining the general location of at least some of the steel reinforcements in the concrete foundation. Thereafter, surgically cutting into the concrete foundation and exposing at least some of the steel reinforcements in a portion of the concrete foundation. Once some of the steel reinforcements are exposed, the method entails measuring the size and spacing of the steel reinforcements. Based on the exposed steel reinforcements and the measurements taken, mapping the steel reinforcements throughout at least a portion of the concrete foundation by illustrating, for example, the size of steel reinforcements, the spacing between the steel reinforcements, and the location of the steel reinforcement relative to one or more selected dimensions of the concrete foundation.

Claims

1. A method of mapping steel reinforcements in a concrete foundation of a telecommunications tower, comprising:

a. propagating waves from the top of the concrete foundation, downwardly to the bottom of the concrete foundation, and back to the top of the concrete foundation;

b. determining the depth of the concrete foundation by computing the time required for one or more wave frequencies to travel from the top of the concrete foundation to the bottom of the concrete foundation and back to the top of the concrete foundation;

c. transmitting radar signals into one section of the concrete foundation;

d. collecting reflection data in response to the radar signals being transmitted into the one section on the concrete foundation;

e. determining the general location of steel reinforcements in the one section of the concrete foundation based on the collected reflection data;

f. based on the determined general location of steel reinforcements in the concrete foundation, surgically cutting into the one section of the concrete foundation and exposing at least some of the steel reinforcements in the one section of the concrete foundation;

g. measuring the size of the exposed steel reinforcements and measuring the spacing between the exposed steel reinforcements;

h. repeating the above steps for one or more other sections of the concrete foundation and measuring the size and spacing of exposed steel reinforcements in one or more other sections of the concrete foundation; and

i. based on the exposed steel reinforcements and the measurements taken, mapping the steel reinforcements throughout the sections of the concrete foundation of the telecommunication tower by illustrating the size of the steel reinforcements, the spacing between the steel reinforcements, and the location of the steel reinforcements relative to one or more selected dimensions of the concrete foundation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein only portions of the steel reinforcements in the concrete foundation are exposed;

and based on the reflection data and the exposed steel reinforcements, projecting the size and arrangement of the steel reinforcements throughout substantially the entire concrete foundation.

3. The method of claim 1 including mapping multi grid layers of steel reinforcements throughout a substantial depth of the concrete foundation and illustrating the distance between grid layers.

4. The method of claim 1 including generating a three dimensional graphic showing the steel reinforcements throughout the concrete foundation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein propagating waves through the concrete foundation includes striking the concrete foundation with an object.

6. The method of claim 5 including disposing at least one accelerometer on the concrete foundation and sensing reflections of the propagated waves with the accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 6 including storing the reflections from the propagated waves on a digital storage oscilloscope each time the waves are sensed by the accelerometer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the radar signals transmitted into the concrete foundation have a frequency range of approximately 1.5 GHz.

9. The method of claim 1 including after determining the general location of steel reinforcements, drilling into the concrete foundation with a drill and exposing portions of steel reinforcements.

10. A method of mapping steel reinforcements in a concrete foundation, comprising:

a. determining the depth of the concrete foundation;

b. transmitting radar signals into one section of the concrete foundation;

c. collecting reflection data in response to the radar signals being transmitted into the one section of the concrete foundation;

d. determining the general location of steel reinforcements in the one section of the concrete foundation based on the collected reflection data;

e. based on the determined general location of steel reinforcements in the concrete foundation, surgically cutting into the one section of the concrete foundation and exposing at least some of the steel reinforcements in the one section of the concrete foundation;

f. measuring the size of the exposed steel reinforcements and measuring the spacing between exposed steel reinforcements;

g. repeating the above steps for one or more other sections of the concrete foundation and measuring the size and spacing of exposed steel reinforcements in one or more other sections of the concrete foundation; and

h. based on the exposed steel reinforcements and the measurements taken, mapping the steel reinforcements throughout the sections of the concrete foundation by illustrating the size of steel reinforcements, the spacing between the steel reinforcements, and the location of the steel reinforcements relative to one or more selected dimensions of the concrete foundation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein only portions of the steel reinforcements in the concrete foundation are exposed, and based on the reflection data and exposed steel reinforcements, projecting the size and arrangement of the steel reinforcements throughout substantially the entirety of the concrete foundation and mapping the size and arrangement of the steel reinforcements throughout substantially the entirety of the concrete foundation.