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Main focus of our services

Our experienced interdisciplinary team, made up of engineers, chemists, mineralogists, geologists and physicists, will provide guidance on how to deal with damage to concrete structures. We employ microscopy (light microscopy on thin sections, scanning electron microscopy) to determine the causes of the damage and describe the state of your structure in expert reports. We analyse cracks and discoloration found on building structures or components.

Our methods

  • Recording of damaged and intact areas
  • Taking of samples from the structure
  • Microstructural analysis on thin sections employing light microscopy
  • Microstructural analysis employing scanning electron microscopy
  • Testing of physical and mechanical parameters (e.g. static modulus of elasticity and compressive strength)
Geometrical properties

Service

Method

Non-destructive testing of compressive strength (rebound hammer)

DIN EN 12504-2

Surface tensile strength, adhesive strength, tensile adhesion strength

DIN 1048-2, ZTV-ING, DAfStb repair guideline:
Part 3, Annex C

Non-destructive determination of concrete cover

electromagnetic

Ultrasonic transit time

 

Crack recording, use of gypsum marks

 

60°C concrete prism test or 40°C fog chamber test on drill cores (with or without alkali supply): Determination of residual expansion potential

VDZ

Post-cracking flexural strength on steel fibre concrete beams (e.g. taken from an industrial concrete floor)

Based on DAfStb guideline

Determination of the content and orientation of steel fibres (CT)

 

Pore content and pore distribution in concrete, mortar and hardened cement paste employing mercury intrusion porosimetry

DIN 66133

Capillary water absorption

DAfStb, no. 422,
DIN EN 480-5

Water absorption at atmospheric pressure / at 15 MPa

DAfStb, no. 422

Permeability measurement

DAfStb, no. 422

Taking of samples from structure (e.g. drill cores for compressive strength test)

DIN EN 12504-1

Microstructural analysis employing scanning electron microscopy

 

Microstructural analysis on thin sections employing light microscopy

 

Qualitative and quantitative phase determination with X-ray diffraction 
Phase determination employing thermal analysis 
Determination of asbestos 

Leaching tests (dynamic surface leaching test/one stage batch test)

CEN/TS 16637-2,
DIN EN 12457

Composition of hardened concreteDIN 52170

Your benefits

  • Recording of damaged and intact areas of concrete constructions
  • Identification of the cause of damage and assessment of the state of the structure
  • Damage prediction (e.g. residual expansion potential due to ASR)
  • Causes of efflorescence and discoloration

Other services in which we operate

Material testing and analysis

Our interdisciplinary team can provide answers to questions relating to the manufacture and application of cement and concrete in line with the latest state-of-the-art. At the same time we can offer our customers a range of services encompassing all important testing activities and consultation work, right through to complex expert reports. Up-to-the-minute research and a professional attitude towards service combine to produce synergies which are reflected by the high quality and practical relevance of our work.

To the service

Environmental analysis

The VDZ laboratories are equipped with high-performance analytical devices for the examination of environmental sam-ples (solids or solutions) to establish the amount of environ-mentally relevant components or the release of environmentally relevant substances. We analyse samples from our own projects with regard to environmental relevance and also offer the same service for samples from external customers.

To the service

Reference materials

We can supply you with a variety of reference materials for use in the laboratory to help you check and assure the quality of your analyses. Materials for the analysis of cements and alternative fuels are currently available. We can provide a standard ASR test cement for checking the alkali reactivity of aggregates.

To the service

Laboratory reviews and laboratory training

A plant laboratory has to perform analyses which are both precise and efficient to be able to guarantee a consistently high level of quality in production. With their experience of research and practical work, our experts can carry out regular checking of your laboratory procedures and test methods as a means of identifying further potential for optimisation.

To the service

Performance of cement

We can offer you various comprehensive services for the purpose of optimising the performance of cement. In doing so we provide you with full support throughout the entire process. Our interdisciplinary teams of experts have many years of experience gained from customer projects around the world and also further their knowledge by working on practical research projects.

More information

Concrete technology

Our experienced team of experts provides answers to all questions relating to the production and processing of concrete. We can offer the full spectrum of important testing and consultation services, together with complex expert reports, ranging from structure management and material and durability tests right through to sustainability assessments and approval inspections.

More information

Person to contact

Do you have questions regarding this service?

Dr Christoph Müller
Concrete technology

+49-211-45 78-351
bte@vdz-online.de

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