Analysis of sorted powder samples for the assessment of deteriorated concrete

In this paper a new device is presented, aimed at collecting the powder ensuing while drilling a concrete member with an ordinary hammer-drill. The result is a sorted sample of ground material which keeps trace of the original depth of extraction in the concrete cover. The powder is contained in a test tube that can be adapted to the specific analysis for which the sample is intended (colorimetric inspection, measurement of the carbonation depth, thermal analyses, etc). The main advantages of this technique are the reduction of the damage caused to the structure, the very little time needs (one carbonation test takes about one minute) and the lower instrumentation and labour costs. These benefits and the reliability of the results are weighed against the established test methods for the same properties.